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. Iâ— a Booke The Italian hath it In the Book which thou wâ—iâ—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 incoÌ„municable nameto the Altar but to make it beare this Mottâ— 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 Jeâ—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. â—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 thâ—â— 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. Baâ—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 â—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. Joâ— 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 â—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 siâ—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
place of the Arke did penetrate also into the Sanctuary like an obscure darknesse Lev. 16. 2. 1 Kin. 8. 12 Isay 6 4. V. 36. In all All their voyage through the desert because that afterwards the cloud appeared no more without because they had no more need of guiding nor of safeguard from the heat but only the darknesse remained within the Sanctuary V. 38. And fire The same pillar which appeared in the day time like a cloud appeared in the night time like fire See upon Exo. 13. 21. THE THIRD BOOK OF MOSES called Leviticus THE ARGVMENT THe name of Leviticus given by the Greek Interpreters to this Booke giveth an inkling of what is the chiefest matter it treateth of namely the forme of the ceremoniall worship which God prescribed his people in the desert after the Tabernacle was erected especially about offerings and sacrifices which indeed had been established by God from the beginning after mans sin and the promise that he should be re-established into grace by the Messias had been continually use in the Church and were of two sorts and for two ends The one sort was expiatory being visible signes and sensible documents of the only purgation of sin by the bloud of Christ that the faithfull might always be occupied in the expectation thereof and directed to seeke by faith in him the only remedy against sin and the condemnation thereof and that through these ceremonies accompanied with the power of Gods Spirit in their lawfull use the feeling of Gods grace might be dispenced unto them and their consciences assured of peace and reconciliation The other were Eucharisticall or to give thanks to make a publick acknowledgement of Gods benefits as well generall as particular But after the comming out of Epypt God willing to cut off all past abuses and to give a firme and perpetuall forme to his service to banish all arbitrary licence and shew that he is pleased with nothing but with obedience by which alone he can and ought to be lawfully served both kinds of sacrifices were regulated by certain laws and circumstances of rites times and places And especially by the appointing of certain persons consecrated and elected by God according to his free choyce who tooke the tribe of Levi in generall for his service and one of that tribe Aaron and his race particularly for sacrifices whereof the eldest from father to son should successively hold the place of high Priest bearing the image of Christ the only eternall spirituall and effectuall Priest of his Church To these observations were added that of the fire which at first fell from heaven and was continually preserved upon the Altar to burn all sacrifices For a figure to shew that Christ the only true Expiatory offering should be touched and burned by the fire of Gods wrath against sin the burthren of which he should take upon him And also that all the Churches spirituall worship ought to be done and sanctified by vertue of the Spirit of God given from heaven As contrariwise by the refusall of the strange fire rashly used by two sons of Aaron and by the severe punishment of that fact is taught that no worke no motion no endeavour that is meerely human can be acceptable to God for the purging of sin nor apt for his true service but that he is contrary-wise offended and provoked by it Besides this first and principall part this Book containeth also the Laws of the distintions of meates clean and uncleane lawfull and unlawfull As well for an exercise and absolute proofe of obedience to God as for a document of holy discretion to abstaine from any thing as God sheweth to be displeasing unto him and may staine the conscience And the declaration of all ceremoniall uncleannesses by meates corporall infirmities and accidents and the purification required in every one of them together with the appointment of a generall purgation or atonement to be made once a yeare of all the peoples uncleannesses Were signes and figures of the ordinary vices and defects which the faithfull cannot avoyd in this wretched life who notwithstanding never want continuall expiation by the application of Christs bloud nor the correction and cure by the working of the spirit untill the time of their full deliverance from sin by death In this Book are also established the Laws of the deg 〈…〉 of affinity and consanguinity forbidden in marriages and also diverse other preceptâ— of justice charity and piety of the purity required in Priests of Feasts of the resting of the earth every seven yeares of the Jubily of vowes of things consecrated to God and the ransome of them Thigns which have all been used in ancient times by an order of Ecclesiasticall discipline and have likewise some reasonable correspondency with the mysteries of the Gospell whereof the Levites were the ordinary teachers sacred ministers and publick expounders Finally all these commandâ—ments were sealed by the Lord with solemne promises to them that should keep them and threatnings to the breakers thereof ANNOTATIONS CHAP. I. VERS 2. AN offering Namely a voluntary one V. 3. At the doore Presen 〈…〉 it in that place before he offer it upon the Altar or it is a generall prohibition of offering it any where but only upon the Altar which was before the said doore and did also sanctifie the offering Mat. 23. 19. Before the Lord the Ital hath more That it may be accepted before the Lord For the obeying of Gods order was that which made the sacrifice acceptable and effectuall to make an attonement with him see Lev. 7. 18. Deut. 12. 13. 26. 1 Sam. 15. 22. Others translate it Let him offer it of his own free will V. 4. Atonement Both ceremoniall sacramental figuring the true and internall attonement of the soul with God by Christs offering apprehended by faith by all beleevers in their sacrifices V. 5. Shall kill Namely the Levites shal kill it see 1 Chron. 23. 28 31. 2 Chron. 30. 16. and 35. 11. V. 7. Shall put Seeing that fire which once fell from heaven Dev 9. 4 was to be continually kept and preserved upon the Altar Leviticus 6. 12. and the use of all other fire was forbidden in sacrifices Lev 10. 1. putting of fire upon the Altar in this place could signifie nothing but kindling of it V. 9. Shall he wash Before they be laid upon the fire And the Priest Not the high Priest but some of the inferior ones whosoever it is that serveth at that time for even at that time or presently after it was ordered they should serve by turnes weekâ—y see Lev. 10. 9 2 Kings 11. 5. Now this was a figure of Christ by whom the faithful are sanctified and presented to God with all their spirituâ—ll service Heb. 13. 15. V. 16. By the place The ashes which fell down from the grate of the Altar were first taken up on the East side thereof and then were carried out of the camp See Lev. 6. 10. V. 17.
secret seducer or plague that corrupteth the rest or some inward inclination to idolatry within your own hearts which like an evill sprout or bud may branch out into abominable effects See Ezchiel 7. v. 10 11. Hebrewes 12. 15. V. 19. Blesse himselfe Dally with himselfe upon the conceit of Gods grace and patience against the expresse protestations joyned to his Covenant See Psalme 49. 18. Jeremy 2. â—0 Zach. 11. 5. To adde For to take an occasion to satisfie to the full his unbridled inclination to Idolatry which being fulfilled bewitcheth a man to continue in it even as thirst induceth a man to drunkennesse yet drunkennesse doth not quench the thirst but rather increaseth it and maketh it even unquenchable See Pro. 23. 35. Isay 56. 12. V. 24. The heat What is the reason of it V. 26. He had not He had not given them leave to chuse for their proper deities to worship as hee had done each Pagan Nation but he himselfe by Covenant was the particular peculiar God of his people Psal. 16. 5. Isa. 53. 12 See Deut. 4. 19. V. 29 The secret things Mans wisdome dependeth not on the curious searching out of Gods mystâ—ries and hidden counsels which he hath reserved for his own knowledge but upon the true knowledge and execution of his Law which he hath revealed see Deut. 4. 6. Job 28. 12. 28. Proverb 1. 7. Eccles. 12 13. 14. CHAP. XXX VERS 1. I Have set Which I have proposed unto thee that thou mightst take thy choyce Are come upon thee The blessing while thou hast persisted in obedience and fidelity and the curse after thou hast gone astray Thou shalt call Through remembrance and by lively meditation V. 6. Circumcise Shall ratifie and make effectuall the Sacrament of Circumcision which thou carriest in thy body through the internall sanctification of his Spirit V. 11. Not hidden The Italian So high that thou canst not apprehend it Hebrew So wonderfully above thee that thou mayest not comprehend it Hee hath a relation to the cleare manifestation of Gods will made unto his people whereas other nations go but as it were groping after it in the darke I say 25. 7. Acts 17. 27. V. 14. In thy mouth Thou knowest it and understandest it thou speakest it and canst speake of it with knowledge Saint Paul Romanes 10. 6. sheweth that these words can truly belong only to the Gospell for to know and speake the Law is not the great prerogative of the Church nor is it sufficient for salvation but to beleeve the Gospel with a lively heart and make a true confession thereof with the mouth is this great prerogative and meanes of salvation V. 17. Drawne away By thine own wicked inclination by the temptations of the Devill and by the evill examples and seducements of men CHAP. XXXI VERS 2. I Can no more I feele that the strength and vigour of my body and mind which I had till now Deuteronomy chapter 34. verse 7. doeth on a suddaine begin to faile me whereby I am warned that the time of mine end draweth neere V. 9. This Law According to some Deuteronomy alone is meant in this place But it it is more likely that it was the whole Law contained in the five Bookes of Moses and that it is the same originall which was found in the time of King Josias 2 Kings chapter 22. 8. Which bo e The Arke was borne by the Levites in the wildernesse whilest there was but a smal number of Priests but afterwards these had the change of it See upon Numbers chapte 4. v. 15. V. 11. Shalt reade Namely you Priests as it was done N. h. 8. 3 7. V. 13. Which have not Which are not yet come to age of discretion and did never heare this Law read V. 15. Stood See Exodus chap. 40. 38. Numbers 9. 17. V. 17. I will hide I will withdraw my favour and will on all sides take my grace away from them V. 19. This song Which is contained in the next chapter Put it Appoint them to learne it and have it continually in their mouths May be a witnes of the benefits which by singing of this song they shall confesse to have received from me of their ingratitude which I reprove them for of my admonitions by which I warne them to do their duties of the denunciation of my judgements and of my promise to restore such as shall repent V. 21. Their imagination In the Italian Their nature or imagination see Gen. 6. 5. and 8. 21. They go about committing idolatry secretly Amos 5. 25. Acts 7. 43. V. 26. In the side The two Tables written with Gods finger were in the Arke Exodus 25. 21. Deut. 10. 2. but on the side of it was laid the whole volume of the Law See 2 Kings chap. 22. 8. Against thee O people CHAP. XXXII VERSE 1. YE Heavens A manner of appealing unto unanimate creatures which is very frequent in Scripture to reprove the peoples hardnesse V. 2. Shall drop It shall bee abundantly and sweetly proposed unto you as comming from Heaven to penetrate into your hearts and cause the seed of Gods Word to spring there And from thence the Prophets are termed droppers Ezechiel Chapter 21. vers 2 7. Amos Chapter 7. v. 16. Mic. Chapter 2. v. 6. 11. V. 3. Because I This is a reason for the obedience required verse 1. Ascribe yee greatnesse acknowledge his supreame Majesty and do reverence unto him through your humble obedience to his Word V. 4. Hee is the Rocke It is a name and epithet of God for the firmenesse and eternity of his Essence and for the firmenesse of his Word and for his being a fence and rampire to his children See 2 Samuel Chapter 23. verse 3. Psalme 18 46. A God The Italian hath it A God so truth or he is the God of truth V. 5. They have Namely the people of Israel whose name Moses concealeth not to exasperate them at the first Their spot They do not sinne through plaine ignorance infirmity nor unawares of which sins Gods children are never truly cleansed in this world 1 Kings chapter 8 46. Pro. 20. 9. but through malice with delight perseverance and profane boldnesse 1 John 3. 9. V. 6. Bought thee Ransomed thee from Egypts tyranny which was a figure of the bondage to the Devill and sinne to make thee his by adoption and Covenant Deuteronomy 4. 20. and 7. 6. and 14. 2. V. 8. When When the Lord had through his providence assigned all the habitable parts of the world to severall Nations to inhabite he reserved the land of promise for his children which was sufficient to hold and nourish the innumerable multitude of them V. 9. Portion Is the people only whom he hath consecrated and appropriated unto himself by a continued Covenant from father to sonne Deuteronomy Chapter 9. 26. Psalme 78. Verses 70. 71. V. 10. In a desert Land This may bodily have relation to the peoples wretched estate in the
people And they these great acts shall bee archieved by these two numerous and warlike tribes come out of Joseph whereof that of Manasses who was the elder shall yeeld in power and number to Ephraims who was the second brother according to Jacobs Prophecie Genesis chap. 48. v. 19. V. 18. In thy Of the commodity thou shalt have thy land bordering upon the sea to make many voyages which will be very profitable to thee In thy in thy peaceable and home led life free from enterprises and altogether employed in governing of thine owne private affaires See Genesis chap. 25. verse 27. V. 19. They Namely the Zabulonites by their frequent voyages into farie Countreies shall invite many Nations to come and worship the true God in his Temple in mount Sion There these nations by the Zabulonites enducements shall serve the true God in that only manner which he hath approved of and appointed Or the Zabulonites themselves being delivered from the dangers of the seas and enriched shall come to yeeld sacrifices of thanksgiving to the Lord Psal. 107. 32. Jon 2. 9. The abundance The great riches which navigation brings in In the sand the sea-shore which though of it selfe it be very barren brings in great revenues by reason of the sea trading V. 20. He that Namely the Lord who hath bestowed upon the tribe of Gad a large and spacious Countrey and although it lye upon the frontiers and therefore be often invaded yet it shall have strength and heart to defend it selfe V. 21. He provided God hath assigned unto Gad the first land which was conquered from the Amorites on this side Jordan See concerning these first fruits of the countrey Numbers 24 20. Because there because this part of the Country was that alone which God let Moses see and which he would have him divide amongst certain tribes And he came This is spoken by propheticall anticipation concerning the Gadites company and faithfull assistance which they lent their brethren in the subduing of the land of Canaan and executing the Lords vengeance upon the accursed people See Jos. 4. 12. V. 22. A lions whelp The Italian Like a lions c. It shall be a warlike nation which out of his mountainous frontier shall often invade its enemies V. 23. With favour With Gods grace and favour which will make him acceptable amongst his brethren Gen. 49. 21. Possesse thou the Italian Thou shalt possesse See Jos. 19. 32. V. 24. Dip He shall enjoy an exceeding fat countrey Gen. 49. 20. V 25. Thy shoes It seemeth to be a proverbiall kind of speech taken from shoes which are made of a solid and hard matter to signifie a continuance of strength without wearing out as Deuteronomy 29. 5. V. 27. Underneath As in heaven is the pacificall feat of Gods glorious resting place so here on earth is the theater of the works of his providence and omnipotency through which he rules the world V. 28. Alone From other people as a Nation consecrated to God and by him protected against all assaults V. 29. Bee found Ciars The Italian Shall dissemble Hebrew Shall lye unto thee that is to say shall be constrained to yeeld obedience unto thee though it be but a feigned and forced one See Psalme 18. 44. and 66. 3. and 81. 15. Shalt tread Shalt beat downe their loftinesse shalt assault and conquer their country and all their forts CHAP. XXXIV VERS 1. VNto the mountaine See Numbers 27 12. Unto Dan This chapter hath beene added to Moses his books by some Prophet after the division of the land of Canaan and therefore these countries are by anticipation called by the names of the tribes to whose lot they fell Now Dan had the uttermost Northern frontier Judg. 18. 7. V. 3. Of Palme trees Jericho is so called Judges 1. 16. 2 Chronicles 28. 15. Because that the territories thereof did abound in such kind of trees and this very name is also given to it by profane authors Zoar A city situate on the furthest part of the sea of Sodom Gen. 19. 22. V. 6. Buried him He caused his body to be laid in the earth by the ministery of Angels or by some other meanes No man It is likely that it was done to take quite away all occasion of superstition and Idolatry See Jude 9. V. 7. His eye By divine miracle Deuteronomy 8. 4. Joshua 14. 11. It may also be that the use of Manna did somewhat helpe towards it it being an exquisitely pure kind of food of an aereall and not very corruptible substance Naturall force Hebrew greennesse that is to say a fresh and thriving constitution of body as Psa. 32. 4. V. 8. So the dayes In this moderate length of time was this mourning ended which amongst other nations was much prolonged for such kind of persons see Gen. 50. 3. V. 9. Of the Spirit Of a supernaturall gift and infused with wisdome under which are comprehended all the vertues belonging to a heroicall and excelling soule See 1 Kings 3. 9 12. Had laid For a signe and sacred meanes of that divine infusion of the holy Ghost into him the Lord going along with the ceremony with his internall operation according to the true property of all Sacraments V. 10. Whom With whom God hath parleyed and to whom he hath communicated himselfe by a cleare and ocular representation without any abstraction or oppression of the senses without any doubtfull speeches visions dreams or other hidden meanes See Numbers Chapter 12. verses 6. 8. V. 12. Hand Operations of Divine and Omnipotent power which did accompany Moses his Ministery See Deuteronomy Chapter 4. verse 34. and 7. 19. THE BOOK OF JOSHVA THE ARGVMENT IOshua who very likely did by divine inspiration write and compose this History and joyned it by way of appendix to the Originall volume of Moses his bookes kept by the Priests in the Tabernacle Sets down in it how that he being whilest Moses yet lived appointed and consecrated his successor after his death entered upon the conduct of Gods people being instructed and strengthened by Gods own Word and authorized by his miraculous and glorious power which accompanied him and accepted and acknowledged by the generall consent of the people And afterwards how he passed over Iordan and after he was come into the land of promise he again sanctified and purged the people putting Circumcision in practice again which had beene intermitted in their pilgrimage in the wildernesse After which the people beginning to enjoy the fruits of the land Manna ceased And the Son of God appearing corporally to Ioshua assured him of his conduct and power through which he in six years conquered with armed hand the Land of Canaan destroyed the accursed Nations and Kings according to Gods Commandement and afterwards divided the Land amongst the nine Tribes and a halfe which had not received their inheritance beyond Iordan appointed the Priests and Levites Cities for their habitations settled Gods Tabernacle in Shiloh observed punctually all
Levites and the Priests who were employed about other businesse and also for them that were unclean 2 Chron. 30. 7. according to the divisions seeing that for every family which had a head there must a Paschall lamb be eaten Exod. 12. 3. V. 7. Bullocks these were for the feasts of unleavened bread Num. 28. 19. and for burnt offrings and sacrifices of thanksgiving V. 8. Rulers Hilkiah was high Priest and the two other were his deputies and heads of the two lines of Eleazer Ithamar according to the custome V. 11. They killed every father of a family Exo. 12. 6. and the Levites by themselves and for other Levites who were otherwise employed sprinkled at the foot of the Altar see upon Exod. 12. 27. V. 12. The burnt offerings that part of these beasts which was to be burned to the Lord namely the fat the kidneys and the caule ver 14. see Lev. 3. 3. V. 13. The other those parts of the sacrifices of thankesgiving which were appointed for those who offered them and were to bee dressed in the Temple and eaten at sacred seasts divided them to each one a part of his offering V. 14. They namely the Levites which ministred made ready the Paschall Lambs and their portions of sacrifices of thanksgiving V. 15. The sonnes namely his race and posterity whose lot and turn it was now to bee and serve in the Temple according to the order 1 Chron. 25. the Levites namely the ministring Levites differing from the other three Offices of the Levites V. 21. The house to the race of the Kings of Assyria perpetuall enemies and emulators of the Aegyptians for God namely by some Prophet of his V. 25. In the Lamentations it might be some compilement of holy Poems upon mournfull subjects as those of Ieremiah are used upon occasion of some publick calamity CHAP. XXXVI VER V. HIs God see 2 Chron. 28. 5. V. 6. To carry him see upon Ier. 22. 18. 19. V. 8. That which was that which appeared to be in him after hee was raised to the Kingdome seeing that great honours and dignities discover the minds of those who possesse them V. 9. Eight yeares 2 Kings 24. 8. is the number of eighteen neither is it certainly knowne how this diversity should bee reconciled onely it is plaine that in the books of Chronicles the numbers seeme to have suffered some alteration by some unknown accident see upon a Chron. 22. 2. V. 10. His brother that is to say his neerest kinsman for hee was his uncle 2 Kings 24. 17. 1 Chron. 3. 15. V. 15. His Messengers namely Prophets and Ministers Hag. 1. 13. V. 17. In the house in Jerusalem appointed to bee the place for Gods Temple V. 20. The Kingdome the Italian the Empire the chiefest and greatest in the world after it had overthrown the Caldeans Empire V. 22. The first after hee had conquered â—abilon and that Empire V. 23. All the Kingdoms a boundlesse and immoderate terme and often used by those great Monarchies which are called universall Dan. 2. 38. Luke 2. 1. though in deed they did not possesse the greatest part of the world hath charged me by revelation revealed to some Prophet or by the hearing and exposition of Isaiahs Prophecies Isa. 45. 1. let him goe up to Ierusalem to re-edifie the Temple Ezra 1. 3. THE BOOK OF EZRA The ARGUMENT EZra Priest and Doctor of the Law sets down in this Book the History of the first and second return of the Iewes out of the Captivity of Babylon to Ierusalem and of the beginning of the restauration of the ' Temple the service of God the City of Ierusalem and of the Common-wealth of Israel under three Kings of Persia Cirus Darius and Artaxerxes Whereof the first after hee had conquered the Empire of the Caldeans at the end of seventy yeares foretold by Ieremiah by publick proclamation set the Iewes at liberty and gave them leave to returne into their countrey and to re-edifie the Temple of God and re-establish his worship Whereupon a great number having for their heads Zerubbabel of Davids royall race and appointed Governour by Cyrus and Ieshua high Priest returned into Iudea and having begun to re-edifie the Temple were disturbed by the wiles and calumnies of the Samaritans Whereupon the work was interrupted and intermitted for a long time untill by Gods expresse command and Darius his permission it was begun again and accomplished and all the orders of the ancient servieâ— re-established After which time under King Artaxerxes Ezra with another great troop of Iewes did also return having the Kings favour and liberality heaped upon him with full power to see Gods true worship kept and observed and his service duely performed And being arrived into Iudea he began with the separation of prophane and unlawfull marriages which the Iewes had contracted with Idolatrous and Pagan women to purge the people of God from all prophane mixture and cut off all inducements which might bring them to fall againe into their old sinnes which had beene so severely punished by these forep pst-ruines CHAP. I. VER IV. REmaineth and cannot follow the rest for want of meanes help him neither by lending or giving to him V. 5. Of Judah amongst which were many of other Tribes 1 Chron 9. 3. V. 8. Sheshbezzar it is thought that this was Zerubbabels name amongst the caldeans seeing they did use to change the chiefest of the Iewes names when they carried them into captivity through superstition and Idolatry or else for a sign of slavery Dan. 1. 7. Prince for Zerubhabel was of the bloud royall of Juda and chief of Davids line 1 Chron. 3. 19. Luke 3. 27. 31. and in this quality hee was head and conductor of the Iewes acknowledged to bee so even in Babylon and was made governour by the King of Persia over those who came back this first time Ezr. 5. 14. and 6. 7. V. 9. Knives they were certaine great Knives to kill the beasts for Sacrifices with which knives belonged to the Priests and were 〈…〉 med up with gold V. 10. Second sort namely for price greatnesse and use for the first which were of gold might be for the service of the Temple within and these for the use of the chambers and of the courts Others translate it double that is to say covered with such like Basins CHAP. II. VER I. OF the Province namely of Babylon called the Province by eminencie for a difference between it and other countreys where the Iewes had been dispersed verse 59 unlesse Iudea be meant as Neh. 11. 3. V. 2. With under these heads to which Neh. 7. 17. is added Nahamani Ieshua high Priest Ezr. 3. 2. called elsewhere Ioshua V. 3. The children sâ—me believe they were the issue and posterity of such and such heads of Nations from which they might also have taken their names but by Neh. 10. 14. it appeareth that they were Families of which by order of birth these were the chiefe and heads in
by the heavenly Fathers adoption She hath no the time prefixed by Gods providence is not yet come wherein shee may be capable to bee joyned in spirituall matrimonie to Christ or be incorporated into the Church Ezech. 16. 7. What shall wee doe what graces shall shee receive from thee O Christ by the ministery of me that am the Church When she shall when wilt thou call her to the communion of the Covenant of grace by the preaching of the Gospel V. 9. If she bee the Bridegroome replyeth as if hee should say if you consider her body as one of the two walls whereof I am the corner stone that doe binde the Iewes and Gentiles together Ephes. 2. 20. I will upon that wall build the palace of my abode in grace and everlasting glory If you consider her ministery which is as the doore of this Temple or Palace I will endow her and strengthen her with excellent graces of my Spirit to the end that the gates of Hell may never prevaile against her V. 10. I am the Bride saith that shee is the Congregation of Saints composed of divers living stones joyned together with the ciment of faith and of the spirit whereof is built a Temple holy to the Lord Ephes. 2. 21. and that her ministery is to feed Gods children which are borne in her with her breasts which are the Old and New Testament Like Towers a similitude which is not answerable to the figure but to the thing figured namely Gods word which is most firme and invariable 2 Pet. 1. 19. whose manifestation and use is maintained by the Church 1 Tim. 3. 15. Then was I that is to say when I namely the Iewish Church was well ordered and whilst I did performe the true 〈◊〉 of a mother I was and shall bee I so long as I continue such in Gods favour Intimating by this speech that when shee should goe astray shee should bee reproved and cast off V. 11. Solomon that is to say Christ sigured by Solomon hath committed the care of his Church to his Servants Mat. 21. 33. not to appropriate the fruit of glory and service to themselves but to referre it to God only Baathamon that is to say the plaine of the multitude which might be some fruitfull plaine not mentioned elsewhere Or it is a name fained according to the signification of the word a Isa 5. 1. Vnto 〈…〉 ers whereby are understood all other duties belonging to good 〈◊〉 dressers V. 12. My Vineyard the Bridegroome declareth that though hee hath given such a commission to his Servants yet he himselfe hath also a continuall care of his Church which is his own proper Inheritance Isa. 27. 3. Or that hee continually enjoyeth the fruites of this vineyard which are alwayes presented unto him by his saithfull servants must have the Bride sheweth that the chiefē revenew of this Vine namely the glory and service must be reserved for Christ who neverthelesse will reward his servants in this life and in the life everlasting with some degree of grace and glory Dan. 12. 3. V. 13. Thou that this is the Bridegroome which speaketh to the Church which he hath brought cut of the wildernesse of the world into places consecrated by him as into orchards and fruit-bearing gardens and admonisheth her never to give over causing her voyce to sound in prayer and preaching whereat the Angels the Bridegroomes friends are present and give eare unto see Eccles. 5. 6. 1 Cor. 11. 10. Ephes. 3. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 20. V. 14. Make hast the Bride saith that though shee much desireth that Christs presence might bee perpetuall yet shee doth accept of and is contented with this enjoying of it at times Cant. 2. 17. Vpon the mountaines that is to say in heaven see Cant. 2. 17. 6. 2. 11. ⧠THE BOOKE OF THE Prophet ISAIAH ARGUMENT BEsides the Priests and Levites which God had anciently established in the ministery of his Church he did also almost at all times send Prophets unto her extraordinarily raised without any distinction of lineage or profession who were immediately called and endowed with supernaturall knowledge of Gods secrets by divine revelations and inspirations and with a perpetuall and infallible conduct of the Holy Ghost in every particular of their Office and authorized by undoubted proofes of the divine motion which wrought in them and by the demonstration of Christs Spirit which spoke by them The summaries of their speeches and Sermons set downe in writing by themselves were kept in the Temple and added to other holy Bookes to stand for Divine and Authenticall Scripture and to be made use of in Ecclesiasticall Lectures and Expositions Yet their ministery was no way concerning the ceremoniall and ordinary service nor the common guide and government of the Church but was directed to these three generall ends First to maintaine by preaching and by the word the religion and customes in their ancient purity and integrity to correct and purge the vices and corruptions which crept in amonst them from time to time to oppose all humane power which should be contrary to Gods power and finally to keep or set againe all things into their former state by the same spirit as they were first established in the beginning The second was to keep alwaies alive the memory of the promises of the Messias and to keepe the faith and expectation of the faithfull alwaies bent towards him and to comfort and strengthen the Church in her sufferings by setting before her the promise of her restauration by Christs spirituall Kingdome The third to be the Ministers of Gods Oracles in many particular occurrences for the revealing of his secret will for to give resolution in perplexities or direction and counsell in difficult cases or for to denounce threatnings to beate downe the pride of the rebellious and for to bring beleevers to repentance Finally they were instruments of Gods continuall communication with his Church and of His Soveraigne power and government over her the strengthening of the ordinary Ministery and a remedy against disorders and growing evils Now one of the most noted amongst these was Isaiah endowed with a propheticke spirit in a most eminent degree for variety of visions sublimenesse of sences for power of demonstration and for a most incomparable Majesty of stile being diversly carried according to the variety of the times which he met with being sometimes under most evill and wicked Kings sometimes under pious and vertuous ones and sometimes under indifferent ones And according to their occasions he hath framed his Sermons the substance whereof is contained in this booke and may be referred to these two generall heads namely of the Law and of the Gospel In the first he doth discover accuse and severely condemne the sinnes of the people in all sorts and conditions of persons In the last he applieth unto the penitent and residue of the elect the onely remedy of Gods grace and the comfort of the promise of eternall
instruments of comfort and deliverance to his Church in her extreamest necessities and calamities So did he also in her greatest and horriblest depravations send her excellent Ministers to beare up the imminent ruine and to interpose themselves between the wrath of God and men enclining the ones rebellion to repentance and to appease Gods wrath by prayers and intereâ—ssions and in default of one or the other to justifie at least Gods judgements and condemne the rebellious and hardned world This did he especially doe by the means of Jeremiah to the Jewish Nation For the whole state and government both Politick and Ecclesiasticall being corrupted and perverted Gods Service neglected polluted and almost annihilated by publike idolatries and the common course of life defiled by all manner of raigning sinnes and finally all forme and appearance of a Church being almost cancelled and extinguished and God being almost ready to dart out his last sentence he would first raise up Jeremiah of the priestly stocke and besides divinely called to the office of Prophet and endowed with all the most eminent qualities belonging unto it for to oppose himselfe to that torrent of evils by lively reprehensions denunciations and protestations and to try whether he could call them to repentance before the fulnesse of Gods judgements did overflow But all these remedies of grace and means of reconciliation proving unprofitable being overcome by the peoples untamed malice he was at the last employed to denounce the decree of their last ruine which did hang over their heads by the Caldeans who by the desolation of Jerusalem and the Temple should subvert the Kingdome and the whole body and form of a common wealth and should carry away the people into a long captivity Reserving neverthelesse after the manner of all Prophets for the remnant of the Elect and true beleevers excellent promises of grace and assurances of preservation and of returning from Babylon at seventy yeers end and of their temporall re-establishment and especially of their eternall salvation by Christ the onely foundation and lively root of hope and restauration to all the fathers of whose Comming Covenant Benefit Kingdome and Priesthood he prophesieth in divers places in a most divine and high straine And to shew that Gods Justice was not asleep concerning other Nations which had been occasions of corruption or stumbling blocks to the people or had been assisting to the destruction of them God gives him a Commission to prophesie against them also and to tell them that they should be involved in the same inundation of the Chaldeans And especially he causeth him to thunder out his most fierce and thundering threatnings upon the head of Babylon In the exercise of this his Office there may be discerned in him not onely a most entire fidelity towards God but also a most entire charity and compassion towards his Nation carrying in his owne person and digesting in his owne holy bosome all the anguishes and feelings of lively sorrowes whereof the people made themselves uncapable through their owne hardnesse And likewise to Gods glory and for the example and instruction of all his faithfull servants he himselfe discovers his owne infirmities the combats of impatience which he hath felt in so toilesome and contentious an exercise of many yeeres describing also the corrections and comforts of Gods Spirit by vertue of which he was able to stand to the triall and finish his course To this Propheticke part of this booke Jeremiah doth in divers places joyne the other which is the historicall relating how unworthily his ministery had been entertained both by great and small how he had been contradicted by Priests and Prophets his person despised slaundered assaulted by violence and secret conspiracies threatned beaten persecuted and imprisoned in extreame misery yet still held up by God and borne up by some remainder of holy soules And at last how the event verified his prophesies when the Chaldeans after divers inroads having over-runne the Countrey changed the Kings subdued the State and carried away part of the people into captivity did at last execute the finall sentence by the taking sacking and burning of Jerusalem destroying the Temple killing the Royall Progeny and all the men of command and transporting the King and the remainder of the people into grievous captivity to Babylon all this falling out before the Prophets owne eyes he being preserved by singular miracle He doth moreover set downe how for all these accidents the heart of that perverse Nation was no way humbled For there being a small remainder left in the Countrey under the government of Gedaliah who was appointed by the King of Babylon some wicked men conspired against the said Gedaliah and slew him Whereupon the people notwithstanding that Jeremiah did strictly forbid them did retire themselves into Egypt forcing the Prophet to goe along with them And their persevering in their franticke idolatry and rebellion they heard from him new threatnings of their last perdition wherewith they were so enraged that they cruelly murthered him as antiquity beleeved and left to us by tradition CHAP. 1. Vers. 1. ANathoth one of the Cities assigned to the Priests Josh. 21. 18. 1 Chro. 6. 60. V. 3. In the fifth of the present yeere V. 5. I knew thee that is to say I did by a degree of my Soveraigne pleasure choose and appoint thee to take upon thee the sacred Office of Prophet see Exod. â—3 12 17. V. 7. Thou shalt goe doe thou obey me without any contradiction for I will give thee strength and all needfull meanes to fulfill my commands To all that I shall the Italian Whithersoever I shall or to doe all those things which I shall send thee to doe V. 9. Put forth namely in a vision for a token of inspiration and confirmation see Isa. 6. 6 7. V. 10. Over the Nation to declare my word publikely with a prophetical authority to the ruin and perdition of the wicked and rebellious and for the salvation of the faithfull and penitent which shall be accomplished and fulfilled from point to point as if thou thy self didst put it in execution V. 11. What seest thou namely in propheticke vision Of an Almond tree the name of this Tree in the Hebrew tongue is taken from a word which signifieth watching or being attentive upon some businesse For the Almond tree blossomes sooner in the spring then any other Tree and upon this signification is this vision founded see Amos 8. 1. 2. V. 13. A seething pot a figure of Jerusalem and Judea as Ezek. 11. 3 7. 24 3. in which God would seeth destroy and consume the Jewes by the fire of the Chaldeans which were Northward from Judea V. 15. They shall set that is to say they shall encampe themselves with their royall tents which shall be like so many thrones in which I will sit and condemne my people to such punishment as the Chaldeans shal execute upon them see Jerem. 52 4 5. V. 17. Gird up
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 â—uving in so great a mulâ—â—â—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 Châ—â—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 Esthâ—r are indeed ancient seeing Iâ—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 poâ—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