Barack shée did call They fought and wan but Sisara In Iaels hands did fall The v. chapiter EUen as the battaile ended was and Israel had the best They sang a song of melody wherin the Lord was blest But curst were some that cam not foorth to help them for to fight And blest was shée that with a naile slue Sisara outright The vi chapiter FAre foule did then the Madianites with Israel for their sin An Angel stird vp Gedeon their fréedome for to win The Idol Ball he did destroy and burst his aulter down â–ª His Father did his cause defend against the Cittie or town The vii Chapiter GEdeon foorth to battail went the Madianites to kil To mickle was his hoste said God for him to haue his wil. So many as feard were sent home back and those that stoupt to drink Thrée hundred slue the Madianites and made their kinges to shrink The viii chapiter HAlfe angry were the Ephraites but Gedeon did them stil Phanuel men and Sucoth bothe did Gedeon take and kil Two kings he slue and then they would haue him and his their heds He it denide but gaue them cause to doo ful wicked dedes The ix Chapiter IEroboas had thrée score sonnes and ten in number true Abimeleck he kild them all saue Ioathan the Iew. Who them rebukte they did him chuse and Gaal rose in vain So Sichem burnt and Thebez stroyd Abimeleck there was slain The x. chapiter KNowe wel ye may what guide they had as Gods that were forbod They were opprest and did repent and called vnto God Who bad them call vnto their Gods in trouble them to saue They did suppresse their Idols quite to God their mindes they gaue The xi chapiter LOok out did then the Galadites a captain and a guide Who willed Ammon not to fight but he his tale denide Then Iephthath vowd a foolishe vow the victory to obtain He had the féeld and home returnd then was his daughter slain The xii chapiter MUrmour so did the Ephraites at Iepthah had they spight Fortie thousand of them he slue and put the rest to flight A woord betrayd them many times when Iordane they would take Thrée Iudges there are then exprest and when their liues did slake The xiii chapiter NO longer did they fear the Lord then Iudges good did liue The vpper hand against them all the Lord their foes did giue A man that was hight Manoah had Samson to him plight His wife him bare as God had said with him dwelt God his sprite The xiiij chapiter OF Samsons mariage ye may hear he would néeds haue his wil As he went down his spouse to woo a Lion did he kil A ridle axt and thirtie men he slue to pay the hest His calfe had tilde the thirties land and went to his fellowes nest The xv chapiter PAstime to make then Samson went to banket with his wife Shée went not in so sprang a cause of hatred and great strife With Foxes fiery he brent their corn Philistians did he slay The iaw bone of an Asse he took and thousands kild one day The xvi chapiter QUarel they pickt to Samson stil and him they watche to slay But he that night burst vp their gates and caried them away He kept a whoore who béeing féed his strength of him shée wan WheÌ„ he was blinde they causd him play but he destroyd them than The xvii chapiter REherst is then of mony lost a woman did it misse Micha her sonne did it confesse and said lo héer it is Uowed shée had and would it kéep an Image did she make Leuite came and lodged there whom Micha his préest did make The xviii chapiter SPies were sent to serche the land the tribe of Dan it wrought At Michas house they lodgd all night where councel good they sought Return they did with ioyful newes and foorth they went to fight The préest and Image they did take and wan the land out right The xix chapiter TO mary against the law of God sée what dooth them betide A Leuites wife did play the whore and flipped from her guide He fetcht her home and as he went at Gabaah was shée slain Then sent he her in péeces twelue the déed for to complain The xx chapiter UP then rose Israel for to fight against the Beniamites For whoredome fact yet Israel was put vnto two great flightê Then did they pray and God theÌ„ plight to haue the higher hand The Beniamites were killd on morn twentie and fiue thousand The xxj chapiter ANd theÌ„ they sware that none of them the Beniamites should wed The men that went not vp to fight they vowed them but dead They took their daughters and theÌ„ gaue the Beniamites to make Yet not suffisde the dauncing dames to wiues they did them take ¶ The book of Iudges is expirde an end therof is made The story of Ruthe ye shall haue next so following scriptures trade Ruthe The first Chapiter A Dearth then fel in Iudaes land Emeleck with his wife And his two sonnes to Moab went there for to lead their life The father died and his two sonnes in mariage dide also The mother then did home return and Ruthe with her did go The ii chapiter BEséech did Ruthe her mother in law That shée some corne might lease And foorth shée went to Booz his field whose sight shée did wel please He bothe inquierd and with her talkte and her intreated wel Sée tolde her mother at the night the story euery dele The iii. chapiter CAused shée was by Noemise woords to sleep at Booz his féet Who when he wakte and felt her there the truthe on her did wéet Shée tolde him all and who shée was then bad he her lie stil And on the morne he gaue her corne and tolde her all his wil. The iiij chapiter DOwn sat Booz then and in the gate his kinsman did he call He shewd to him afore the heads what land to him did fall He said he would not purchace it so Booz the land did buy And maried Ruthe who had a sonne when he with her did lie ¶ Ruthe dooth end at Chapters foure shewing whom she did wed A Gentile she was yet she bare the Graunsire to Dauid The first of Kings ye shall haue now whom Samuel some doo call The stories shall declare you how that Kings to them did fall ¶ The first book of Samuel otherwise called the first of the Kinges The first Chapiter A Man two wiues had wedded tho the one no children had She had suche wo she praid to God who sent to her a lad Elkanah was her husbands name and Hannah was shée hight And Samuel did shée call her sonne whom shée to God had plight The ii chapiter BEgin did Hannah for to sing and sang a goodly song The sonnes of Ely were vnthriftê and did the people wrong Ely them did rebukte but small for whiche God did him chide He sent a man to tel him plain his house should
Rachel did depart and Beniamin shée bore Ruben vnhilde his fathers wife and lost a fléese therfore The xxxvi chapiter LIkewise is tolde of Esaus wiues and gentles daughters all Hée and Iacob were very riche in goods terrestriall Esau had Dukes that were his sonnes Euen twelue in number iust He was father to Edomits in whom God had no lust The xxxvii chapiter MOre for to hear of Iacobs life in Canaan he dwelt Iosephs bréethern liked him not and cruelly they delt Into Egipt then was he solde his brethern wrought the déed They tolde his sire his sonne was slain whiche made his hart to bléed The xxxviii chapiter NOw then is shown how Iuda took a wife of Canaan He had thrée sonnes two were destroyd the third was nam'd Onan And Thamar was the womans name whiche bothe of them did wed And Iuda by her had two twinnes when she was brought a bed The xxxix chapiter O What an hap then Ioseph had the Lord did so prouide His masters wife did him prouoke but he her sute denide Shée him accus'de but not deseru'de her tale as then took place Wherby Ioseph to prison went but giltles in that cace The xl chapiter PUt in prison were Pharoes men and bothe of them laid fast His baker chéef and butler bothe whiles his anger did last Ioseph with them in prison was and as they slept ful sound They dreamed dreames whiche vnto theÌ„ this Ioseph did expound The xli chapiter QUestion askt of Pharoes dream of Oxen fat and lean Whiche Ioseph did expound ful plain and tolde what they did mean He was set vp and ruler made in Egipt ouer all Two sonnes he had and so the dearth on Egipt then did fall The xlii chapiter RIde out for corne did Iosephs kin and came to him vnknowne He threat them hard that they were spies into that cuntrie blowne Simion laid in prison is whiles they did home return And Beniamin they took with them whiche made their father mourn The xliii chapiter SO back they went to Egipt tho with giftê and presentê great And Simeon is deliuered out and Iosephs chéeks are wet And Ioseph could not then but wéep when Beniamin he saw They sat and feasted in two partê according to their law The xliiii chapiter THen Ioseph wrought a pretie cast Beniamin for to haue And theft he laid vnto his charge suche woords to them he gaue But Iuda suretie he became for Beniamin his sake His father Iacob hée did knowe it heuely to take The xlv chapiter UNknowne was Ioseph all this while at last he tolde them all That he their brother Ioseph was That ruled great and small The xlvi chapiter APpointed foorth then Israel went in Egipt for to bide And God him bad nothing to fear for all should wel betide Iacob his sonnes and all their sonnes is then in order tolde And Ioseph went them all to méet ful ioyful to beholde The xlvij chapiter BRought was Israel before the king in his presence to stand And Pharao wild that he should dwel where fattest was the land Then Iacob sware Ioseph his sonne euen vnderneath his thie â—is bones to lay in Canaan at time when he should die The xlviij chapiter CAusd was Israel sick to bée by course of natures kinde And Ioseph went with his two sonnes to knowe his fathers minde Iacob did wil that Iosephs sonnes Ephraim and Manasses Should be as children to him born whiche Ioseph wel did please The xlix chapiter DOwn fel his sonnes vpon their knées euen twelue of them there was He blest them all and tolde of things that after came to passe Then chargd he them that they should lay his bones in Manebrey féeld Then pluckt he vp his legs to him and vp the ghoste did yéeld The l. chapiter EChe thiÌ„g was doon his corps they took as he on liue did minge And laid it down by Abrahams side fulfilling so eche thing Forgiue did Ioseph all the fault that his brethern had wrought And so he dide and wild his bones to his fathers to be brought ¶ Heer haue ye now the end and some of Moyses his first book The second shall in order come Suche pain the writer took The first Chapiter ANd then the first of Exodus the twelue tribes it dooth name Whiche being dead laid in earth their children came to fame A new king then to Egipt came that gaue the midwiues charge To kil the males when they were borne but they set them at large The ii chapiter BOrn Moyses was and after cast euen down the riuer in réeds And Pharoes daughter took him vp and shewd him motherly déeds Then Moyses slue an Egiptian and fled and took a wife The people cride vnto the Lord whiche saw their woful life The iii. chapiter CAused was Moyses shéep to kéep not far from Oreb hil Wherin a bushe the Lord appéerd and tolde him all his wil. And bad him go to Egipt back the Israelites to tel That out of bondage they should come and liue and doo ful wel The iiij Chapiter DEclaerd by double signes it is that calld he was by God His reasons all they are assoild and foorth the Lord him bad As Aaron met with him in féeld togither then they went Of Iethro Moyses took his leaue and yod where he was sent The v. Chapiter EChe bothe of them withouten fear tolde Pharao God his minde The more the people were opprest â–ª the king was so vnkinde Then cride they out and gan to chide with Moyses and Aaron And Moyses axed God the cause whiche looked them vpon The vj. chapiter FEft fully was deliuerance vnto the Israelites Also the land of Canaan whiche made them chéerful wightê Then Rubens spring with Simeon is tolde and Leuy too Of whom came Moyses and Aaron that had Gods hestê to doo The vii chapiter GOd made Moyses Pharoes God and Aaron his Prophet And then God turned Moyses rod into a Serpent great â–ª The sorcerers did euen the same to harden Pharoes hart Then were their waters turnd to blood yet did he not conuart The viij chapiter HIt was Pharao then and plagued with Frogs ouer the land He sent for Moyses and Aaron to take the thing in hand He mocked them therfore the Lord turned their dust to lice And they put by then came there â—â—ies after the Lords deuice The ix chapiter IN stéed thereof came moren of beastê that died in Pharoes land And sixtly sores with botches great yet did he God withstand The seuenth was haile thunder muche that made the land to shake And lightning great from heuen on hie whiche causd them all to quake The x. Chapiter KNowledge he yet would not his faulâ— but God he did resist He did it not in ignorance but wel he knew and wist The eyght plage next was grashâ—pper that God almightie sent The ninthe was darknes in the day they knew not where they went The xi chapiter LEaue then was giuen the Israelites the Egiptians to spoil
the Cittie fought but yet at last they lost Zedechias sonnes were kild he saw the wicked did so rout The Town and Temple was destroid and then his eyes thrust out ¶ The last and fourth book of the Kings the second some it call Is gone and past with matters hard in meeter for to fall The Crownicles the douts shall mend God let vs liue therto And send vs grace to doo the thing that we intend to doo ¶ Finis The first book of the Chronicles ¶ The i. chapiter ADam his ligne is héer exprest to Iacob and Esau Then haue you tolde what kings did rule the Edomites by law Eight kings they had before the time that Israel had a King What Dukes they had ye may haue there if you inquire the thing The ii Chapiter BEgin the second Chapter dooth with Iacob and his sonnes And then of Iudahs progeny it next in order comes Seauen were the sonnes that Isay had whose father was Obed And Dauid yungest was of them yet was he made their hed The iii. chapiter COncubines diuers Dauid had of sonnes he had ninetéen â—n Hebron sixe Hierusalem there had he iust thirtéen These by his wiues to him were born in whiche was Salomon The Kings that ruled after him the chapter telleth on The iiii chapiter DRawn out is then the ligne and stock of Iudah and his kin In wanting food to féed their shéep good pasture they did win Of Simions sonnes somewhat is said how valiantly they went They béeing few yet sped they wel and had their whole intent The v. chapiter EUil fauoured lust to fathers wife lost Ruben his birthright And Iosephs stock came in his roum a people ful of might Yet is his stock héer tolde and what a noble fight they fought A land they wan but after fel from God who draue them out The vi Chapiter FOlowing on of Leuies ligne expressed is at large Of whom came Aaron and his sonnes that had the préestly charge Citties they had of other tribes for refuge and besides For them and their posterities as lots to them were guides The vii Chapiter GOing on foorth by Israel to tel who came of him Of Izacar and Beniamin Manasses and Ephraim Then Ephraims stock by men of Gath were slain whiche made him sad His fréends did comfort him right wel and then a sonne he had The viii chapiter HEar more is tolde of Beniamin his sonnes by right discent How they begat from childe to childe and lineally foorth went Out of which tribe came foorth king Saul and of his sonnes by rowe As tolde and eke of valiant men that shot wel in a bowe The ix chapiter ISrael is now numbred in certain tribes by name The Leuites and the chéefest préestê that were of greatest fame The ouerséears of the woorks the porters in their charge The oyntment makers vessel kéepers are héer tolde out at large The x. chapiter KIng Saule is slain by Philistins and Ionathas his sonne His body stript his hed cut of after the féeld was wun The cause is tolde why he was slain by councelling with the Deuil And Dauid brought into his raign who rooted out muche euil The xi chapiter LIke as the Lord had promised by Samuel his man So Dauid now is chosen King Hierusalem he wan His noble men are tolde by name and eke their mightie actê He that wil read the chapter out shall hear of woorthy factê The xii chapiter MEn that of might were meruailous to Dauid now did flock And suche as knew the featê of warres came out of euery stock Out of eche tribe good souldiers their captains with their number Are héer so tolde and with suche hartê as might make Dauid wunder The xiii chapiter NOw Dauid héer dooth councel take the Ark first home to bring Whiche Saule did nothing care to doo as long as he was king And one was slain for touching it when as the Ark did shake So came it short to Sion hil it made the king to quake The xiiii chapiter OF woork men and of Ceder trées sent to him héer is tolde Wherby his kingdome stablished to say he durst be bolde His sonnes and wiues are then exprest the Philistines inuade With God he talkte whose wil obayd he flue them in a slade The xv chapiter PRepare did he a multitude for to fetche home the Ark The Leuites bare it on their backs plesantly sang eche clark With shouting noise and instruments and Dauid daunst his part The daintie damsel Michol then despisde him in her hart The xvi chapiter QUietly now the Ark is set the tabernacle vnder The préestê appointed to giue thanks according to their number A Psalme he made in praise of God to laud his holy name In the hundred and the fift Psalme there shall ye finde the same The xvii chapiter REfuse did God that Dauid should an house vnto him build But as before so would he stil dwel vnder tent in féeld But that a sonne of his should make a house he was content Then landed he the Lord therfore sitting within his tent The xviii Chapiter SUche battailes then as Dauid fought this chapter dooth declare The Philistines the Moabites they all subdued are The Edomites with other Kings did Dauid ouerthrowe And those that were his rulers chéef their names héer may ye knowe The xix chapiter THen Dauid sent of right good wil a new King for to gréet The messengers were madly shauen their cotes cut ful vnméet Suche wrath their maister took therfore that battail gan to broile The Moabites the Aramites they fled and had the spoile The xx chapiter WHen Princes vse in battaile ray their armies to set out Then Ioab went and wan a town and took a King ful stout Whose crown was set on Dauids head whiche waid a waightie waight Suche Giants then were ouerthrowne as lackt no strength nor height The xxi chapiter According as the Deuil did tempt Dauid did tel his flock Of thrée hard stripes the Pestilence he chose to be his stroke Thrée score and ten thousands of men the Angel did deuour The plague is ceast â–ª an aulter built vpon a threshing floure The xxii chapiter BEing at rest now in his seat all things he dooth prouide Wherwith to build to God an house at the apointed tide Good councel to his sonne he giues for to erect the same His noble men he dooth exhorte to help the woork to frame The xxiii Chapiter CHosen king was Salomon then by Dauid for to reign The préesthood eke of Leuies kinde was numbered again Then Aarons stock and Moyses ligne are pointed bothe as one Their names and eke their offices for them to wait vpon The xxiiij chapiter DEuision of Aarons séed the king by lot did make And so eche man that had his roum by lot he did it take Yet was there left of Amrams house whose names by course are tolde And lots were cast for equalnes betwixt the yung and olde The xxv chapiter EChe man that
A fast was cride for aid to God they shamde to aske a garde So past they foorth so home they came their bown aboue was heard The ix chapiter IN raging wise when Esdras heard that gentile wiues were kept He rent his clothes he rare his beard and sorowfully he wept When euening came he prayers made moste humbly vnto God To stay his hand to stop his wrath to kéep away his rod. The x. chapiter KNowledge they gaue to Esdras tho that sore they did repent Their heathen brides for to forgo they were right wel content The multitude are called vp the raigny plague is â—ore Suche as offend they graunt to mend Iudges are set therfore ¶ Thus ended is now the first book whiche Esdras hath to name The second eke is called so because he writ the same Noehemiah yet some it call because of him it treats You shall hear how the building fares for all the wicked threats ¶ The second book of Esdras The first Chapiter ASking for newes from Iury land Nehemiah astond The Cittie rackt and burnt adown hée shright and lowdly moend Him self alone with wéeping fast he praid to God almight His prayer did tend grace for to finde in Aasuerus sight The ii Chapiter BUtler vnto the King he was and sadly did he wait The King him askt and he him tolde then pasport had he straight When to Hierusalem he came he vewd the whole decay Then chéerfully went foorth the woork he would haue no denay The iii. chapiter COmpanies now in order built eche one he took his place Some of good wil some in despite the woork went on apace Of all estates laid to their hande the building to aduaunce â–ª And last of all the Goldesmiths build and so doo the merchants The iiii chapiter DEadly hate the enemies took that stil the Iewes did build They scornd mockt they did conspire vnwares to giue them féeld Their treason wrought came to the Iewes so were they prest to fight Their foes were blank so souldier like they wrought and wacht by night The v. chapiter EChe maÌ„ cride out y e dearth was great they pledgd their land for bread The riche opprest the poor ful sore of God they had no dread It was redrest Nehemiah got pardon for the gaged He liued without the peoples fée all thing was wel eswaged The vi chapiter FUl suttlely wrought the heathen then Nehemiah to kil They sent for him ful oft with craft he went not them vntil The Prophetê false would him afraid in faith he finisht all Some bearing rule had hollowe hartê I think and euer shall The vii chapiter GArded now is Hierusalem with watche and eke with warde They are found out that first went vp their names are red and heard Some were put out their kin forworn and some found right in blood Bothe riche and poor gaue to the kark it came to mickle good The viii chapiter HAuing now doon the woork as ought the law to them is read The people wept and mourned sore of God they were in dread The teachers theÌ„ with gladsome woordê their fearfulnes remooues The rulers all came for to hear their feast was kept in boothes The ix chapiter IN fasting and in prayer bothe with sack clothe mourningly The people doo their alien wiues forsake moste willingly A godly prayer the préestê doo make Gods wunders to set out How merciful he was to them though stil they had béen stout The x. chapiter KNowne out were now how many would and eke therto subscribe That they would haue the couenaÌ„t kept the chéef of euery tribe The things are tolde wherto they swear to kéep with all their hart They doo protest with ful consent they nil from them depart The xi chapiter LOts then were cast in euery ten one should appointed be Hierusalem to make his shrowd they did therto agrée So are they tolde from tribe to tribe who did the cittie kéep The resâ—due abrode did dwel in townes as folded shéep The xii chapiter MAny there were that did return home with Zorobabel Préestê and Leuits their names in course this Chapter dooth you â—el And eke how that the wall therto they doo it dedicate With ranks beset with singing men with laudes from gate to gate The xiii chapiter NOw on that day the law was read that straungers were forbod To mixe among the Iewishe sect and so from them they yod The Saboth day they did not kéep the ruler it refourmd And double men with heathen babes with spéed suche out he turnd â–ª ¶ Nehemiah thus finisheth the second some it call Of Esdras now and Esther next in course to you shall fall This prouerb heer is true ifound the wicked makes his gin To catche the iust but he him self is trapt and caught therein The book of Esther The first Chapiter AHasuerus or Darius for so some doo him call A royall feast he princely kept to chéer bothe great and small The Quéen sent for to come in sight shée did send â—lat her nay Shée is deuorst and law is made eche wife for to obay The ii chapiter BEeing appeased of his wrath the King had counsel then That virgins should be chosen out the fairst among women So were they chose and purified with garmentê gayly drest The King had choise whiche should be Quéen so Esther likte him best The iii. chapiter COurted now is a wicked man that Haman hight by name Who wanting glory to his wil he sought a bloody fame By false report he got consent the Iewes to kil and slay The postes were sent to euery cost and pointed was the day The iiii chapiter DOleful cryes and shouts were made the Iewes were so agast Mardocheus to Court he came the Quéen was sore abasht Shée sent him woord to fast and pray and so to wil the rest Her life shée should in daunger put yet was shée therto prest The v. Chapiter Esther then in her best aray came foorth before the King He likt her wel and Septer shewd to testify the thing The King did to her banket go and Haman with him took Who comming home vnto his house ful wicked councel took The vi Chapiter FOund out it was Mardocheus the King had saued vnféed Who Haman axt what suche a one should haue vnto his meed In goodly robes to ride saith hée with honour and with praise To Mardocheus said the King go doo the same straight wayes The vii Chapiter GOn to banket is Haman now to drink his last carrouse The Quéen then tolde her doleful hap to her and to her house Unto the King who rose in wrath gainst Haman for the fact His gallous for another made his neck therin it crackt The viii chapiter HAmans house Merdocheus had his office therunto The Quéen did beg her peoples life the King did graunt therto The posts were sent the ioy was great the Iewes had suche reléef The woork of God on them so wrought made some of their beléef The ix chapiter
AN ABRIDGEmeÌ„t of all the Canonical books of the olde Testament written in Sternholds meter by VV. Samuel Minister The names of the books are in the next leaf following ⧠Imprinted at London by VVilliam Seres Anno Domini 1569. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum The contents of this book 1. Genesis 2. Exodus 3. Leuiticus 4. Numeri 5. Deuterone 6. Iosue 7. Iudges 8. Ruthe 9. 1. Kings 10. 2. Kings 11. 3. Kings 12. 4. Kings 13. 1. Chronicles 14. 2. Chroni 15. 1. Esdras 16. 2. Esdras 17. Esther 18. Iob. 19. Psalmes 20. Prouerbs of Salomon 21. Ecclesiastes 22. Songs of Salomon 23. Esay the Prophet 24. Ieremy the Prophet 25. Lamentati of Ieremy 26. Ezechiel the Prophet 27. Daniel the Prophet 28. Osea the Prophet 29. Ioel the Prophet 30. Amos the Prophet 31. Abdias the Prophet 32. Ionas the Prophet 33. Micheas the Prophet 34. Nahum the Prophet 35. Abacuck the Prophet 36. Sophoniah the Pro. 37. Haggeus the Prophet 38. Zacharias the Proph. 39. Malachias the Proph. The Preface GRace mercy peace froÌ„ God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christe by whose meanes wée are made of strangers frée Citizins of the houshold of god and apointed to dwel in his kingdome again so that wée be not disobedient vnto his calling by his holy spirit whiche spirit is a sure certain maker of our spirit that wée bée the true begotten sonnes of God Déerly beloued when that I did remember how willing â–ª that the Israelites were at the making of the Tabernacle euery man to giue part of that whiche he had towards the building of the same yea and such plentie came in dayly to the woorkmen that stay was made for bringing in any more And also how that in Salomons daies euery man gaue to the building of the temple more or lesse and now séeing it hathe pleased our Iehoas to giue commaundement to the Préests to repair the Temple at their charge And our Darius to forbid any man to hinder the woork but all meÌ„ to further the same I as a cariar of rubbishe or fillingê haue thought my selfe to negligent in looking 〈◊〉 so long and although that my labour be small my cunning muche lesse yet let the frée Masons or maister woorkmeÌ„ bear with me and accept my good wil be séeching them to build on as they haue begun that I and suche prentises of theirs as I am may dayly learn at their handê at length to be iorney men the head master of all assisting vs. I haue taken in hand to make in méeter the chéef principall matters in the whole Bible keping the order of the chapters as they stand also beginning the first â–ª chapter of euery book with A. the first letter of the Crosse-rowe and the second B. the third C. and so to the letter U. the Alphabet to last xx letters kéeping on twentie Chapters Now if the book or part of the same be aboue twentie chapters theÌ„ begin I with A. again as for example Genesis hath fiftie Chapiters therefore because that it should not be to tedious it is deuided into two parts as the first part fiue twentie Chapters and so the next then when the twentie chapiters be done A. and so B. C. D. E. whiche are fiue letters and there ends that part then beginneth the next part with A. againe and so to twentie and then those fiue letters again and so ends that book and fiftie chapters but some book hath not twentie chapiters as héer in this setting out the book of Ruthe then goeth the letters no further then there be chapters as D. is the fourth letter so hath that story but foure chapters Know the letter and his number then you haue the Chapiter for the whiche I haue héer deuised how that the simple maÌ„ or other shall tel the moste of all the matters notable in the Bible vpon his fingers as héer after is a hand held abrode vpright another hand closed in sauing the fore finger which pointeth to the top of the thumbe on the left hand where staÌ„deth the letter A. and the number one so holde thou out thy left hand and point with thy fore finger of thy right hand to the top of thy left hand thombe and vnderstand that there is the first letter the first in number and the first chapiter of eche book vnlesse that it begin again as I tolde thée of Genesis then though it be the first letter yet standeth it for one twentie in number and chapters So then to the next ioynt of the thombe and that is B â–ª the second letter the second number and chapter then the third ioynt is third in nomber and Chapter also then to the top of the fore fiinger and there is D. the fourth letter the fourth in number and the fourth chapter and so as before vntil that you come to the last ioynt of the litle finger and that is the letter T. and the number ninetéen and in the palm of the hand standeth the letter U. and that is the number twentie and chapter likewise now then there is no more but bée sure to learne what number euery ioynt is and what letter and then hauing the letter and the number the chapiter is so in number as the staffe dooth begin with all in letter but be sure of the book in whiche the story is that you would know as to make you parfit héer is examples by order of questions thou must haue y e book parfet by rote then one asketh thée wher is it in the book of Genesis that the Angels came lodged with Lot the night afore that Sodome and Gomorra were destroyed if thou be not altogither parfet aske him whether he can say the staffe if hée cannot if he haue the book bid him tel thée the letter if hée cannot neither then thy cunning shalbe the more tried wel this it is The staffe beginneth with T. what number is T. that is ninetéen say then Two Angels lodgd and Sodome men would then haue them defilde Blindâ—d they were and after stroyd saue Lot and his vnfilde THe hardest example is this where is it that Abraham charged his maÌ„ to go and fetche a wife for Isaac of his owne kinred and how hée brought Rebecca the chapter is the foure twentie of Genesis and the staffe beginneth w t D. as Decrée did Abram to his maÌ„ c. Now D. in the number of letters is the fourth but then twentie Chapiters be afore and therfore D. in that place is four twentie so that A.B.C.D.E. are some times one and twentie two and twentie thrée and twentie foure and twentie and fiue and twentie Chapiters But to conclude this I doo exhorte that ye learne to say this book without the book so shall you soon vnderstand all that I haue said the study is good and profitable and it once obtained great coÌ„moditie shal you finde as hearing a Preacher preache if he say this
text this place this story this parable and this sentence is in the scripture if no thou shalt knowe for the moste places if yea thy conscience shal be ioyned to his his saying to be true and also it shalbe ioyful vnto thée to hear that place brought into thy remembrance yea and sometime as now blessed be God is often heard a hard place or dark speaking or a story applyed and expounded to thy great comfort and edifiyng And in continuance thou shalt be able to say muche in holy writings and to vnderstand many things necessary to be knowne for euery christian which is my only desire knowing that exercise in godlynes is muche woorth and all scriptures of God are good for the man of God both to be improued and also instructed that he may be parfet which God send my cuntrie poeple once to be that Gods merciful hand may be alwayes ouer vs who euer be praysed Note that if the book be deuided in two partê then be sure of the number of chapters in the first part and then set them to those folowing as is shewed thée afore as the first part of Genesis is fiue and tweÌ„tie chapters then A. in the beginning of the second part is sixe and twentie B. seauen and twentie and foorth to fiue and fortie and then A. is sixe fortie and so to fiftie 1569 A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4 E 5 F 6 G 7 H 8 I 9 K 10 L 11 M 12 N 13 O 14 P 15 Q 16 R 17 S 18 T 19 V 20 TO euery ioynt The finger point In order as they stand The letter then To all those men That take this book in hand Then shall they knowe And plainly showe The Chapter out of dâ—â—t Of any thing In this writing The letter once found out From A. to V. The thing is true The Alphabet dooth last Euen twentie iust From last to first So count you must to cast If you once finde The letter in minde And knowe what number it is You may be sure Of that Scripture To hit and not to misse But perfet must You bée to trust The letter and his somme And then you may Withouten nay The story tel to come Also the book Sée that you look How it is calld by name And then the text And number next Be sure it is the same ¶ Finis ¶ Faults escaped in the Printing ¶ In Genesis the xlv Chapiter be left out the v. vi.vij and eyght lines whiche be these following Then willed hée his brethern straight their father for to fetche In Egipt land to bide and dwel as far as it did stretche Exodus the sixt chapiter the first line for feastfully read feft fully Leuiticus the sixtéen chap. the fourth line for matter read maner Numeri the fift chap. the last line for decréed read decrée Deuteronomium the thrée twentie cha the seuenth line for the loue of things read the lone of things Iosue the xxi chapiter the seuenth line As God them gaue So God them gaue Samuel the second book the eleuenth chap. the second line for Bethsade read Bethsabe The fourth of Kings the thirtéen chapiter the fift line for nad read had The first of Chronicles the xxiij chapter the last line for vpo read vpon The second of Chronicles the xx chapiter the vij line â–ª for liues read lines The second of Esdras the third chapiter the first line for bnilt read built Iob the xviij chapter the fift line for with read net Psalme the foure twentie the first line for them read though Psalme the xxix the seuenth line for haue read saue Psalme the fiue and thirtie the third line for this read his Psalme the C.xvi. the first line but he that would read but that he would Psalme the C.xxx the seuenth line some thing yet made some think it made Prouerbs the xij chap. read the xxxi chap. The Canticles the first cha the fourth line and now read and none Esay the lvij chap. the first line for righteousnes read righteous men Ezechiel the third chapiter the third line for swoord read woord Ezechiel the fift chapiter the fift line for floke read stroke Ezechiel the xviij chap. the first line for some read sinne Ezechiel the xxxij chap. the first line for muche more read muche mone Zacharias the ninth chap. the seuenth and the eight line for the lowely read hée lowely and for them in the last line him In. G. Ex. L.N. and D The fiue bookê of Moyses contayned bée ¶ The i. Chapiter ALmighty God did make the heauens and set therin these lightê The Sun the Moon all the starres appéering in our sightê The earth the Sea and all therin all these his woord did make With man made last and yet set first his wil on them to take The ij Chapiter BEgin did then the Lord to rest From making of suche things And pointed Adam to a place a garden ful of springs One trée denied and man dooth name the beastê after his wil In sléep to him his make was made whiche did his minde fulfil The iij. Chapiter CAused was man by Sathans sleight Gods wil to break outright The hée the shée and the Serpent are curst and driuen out quite For fear lest man should then dispair with his wife and to hel The womans séed y t whiche was Christe shall come and make all wel The iiii chapiter DOwn fel Abel Cain him slue in offering to the Lord The iust was slain of the vniust as scripture dooth record Then is he curst and dooth dispair after his wicked déed The genealogie of Adams sonnes and their sonnes dooth procéed The v. chapiter EUery yéer that Adam liued is there moste plainly tolde Whose age was then euen nine hundred and ful thirtie yéer olde And so from him vnto iust Noe the chapter dooth expresse The names yéeres how long they liued with muche of their successe The vi chapiter FUl wicked were the people tho a flud was threat of God With a precept to make an ark euen as the Lord had bod And then did Noe prepare the ship after the Lords deuise And redy prest as he was wild against the flud should rise The vii chapiter GOd spake these woords to Noe his maÌ„ and we therto must hark Go thou and all thy familie with spéed into the ark Euen so did Noe as God him bad and took of eche kinde twain His wife his sonnes and all their wiues and then began the rain The viii chapiter HUndreth dayes and od fiftie the flud began to end A Rauen and eke a Dooue also Noe foorth for newes did send Then went Noe forthe and did offer to God burnt sacrifice Whiche liked wel the God on hie when the smel did arise The ix chapiter IN fauour then was Noe and blest and murther is denide A rainbowe sent and promise made with water not destroyd Then Noe fel drunk and lay vnhilde and Ham his sonne was glad The other
Against they should depart and go and giue them all a foil At midnight then the Lord did vow to make so great a slaughter The first born of Egipt to kil as it is tolde héer after The xii chapiter MAde héer is next the passeouer and swéet bread for to eat And if their children axt the cause the meaning they must treat The first born then destroyed are and robbed were the rest And so the Hebrues took their way towards the land behest The xiij chapiter NOw all the first in Israels birth the Lord did take and chuse Commaunding them aâ— yéerly feast among them for to vse Then passed they the wildernes with Iosephs bones also Two pillers for the day and night they had therby to go The xiiii chapiter OUt Pharo went hard in his hart against the Israelites So folowde he with all his train and came within their sightê But God his people did defend by night and day from harm They past the sea but Egipt men lay drowned in a swarm The xv chapiter PAst wheÌ„ they were this dauÌ„ger great they sang a goodly song A woman came with diuers mo and daunced all along The bitter water was made swéet and plesant for to drink God must be heard in his couenant and on him must we think The xvj chapiter QUainted when that they were two months within the wildernes They wisht them selues again to be in Egipt at their fleshe It rayned Quailes from heauen on hie and Manna for their bread And fortie yéeres in wildernes with that they were all fed The xvij chapiter REmoouing on they lacked drink and grudge then did the flock At Moyses sute then had they some whiche came out of a rock Foorth came a king hight Ameleck against them for to fight When Moyses hands were holden vp then were they put to flight The xviii chapiter SO Iethro Moyses father in law came Moyses for to sée Who welcomde him his wife sonnes after the best degrée When Iethro saw what paines he took when iudgement he did vse Suche actiue men as loued not coin to help he wild him chuse The xix chapiter THen as they went they came vnto the mount of Sinai A royall people they are calld if Gods wil they apply The Lord did say he that dooth touche the hil shall die outright But Moyses wild went vp to him in thunder and great light The xx chapiter WHen he was come he gaue to him ten iust commaundements Precepts to kéep and guide vs by with all their whole contents An aulter of earth then God did bid his man Moyses to make And if of stone he did it build no tool therto to take ¶ Twentie chapters afore are tolde in order as they stand The rest heere after ye may read if ye wil take in hand The xxi chapiter ANd then this book as it is calld euen Exodus by name Dooth tel good lawes for magistrates to execute the same That masters be not ouer sore their seruants for to main And he that kils a man is iudgd for it he must be sâ—ain The xxij chapiter BEholde you then these godly lawes of theft the fourth â—olde paid He that defiles an vnplight lasse he marry must the maid A witche and he that knowes a beast bothe die they must of right All vsury it is forbod and haâ—ed in Gods sight The xxiii chapiter COupeling wise these chapters thrée ronne all of ciuil lawes Iudges are wild to take no gifts but héere the poore mans cause Thou maist not followe a multitude wickednes to commit Nor haue to doo with forren Gods though thou shoulds die for it The xxiiij chapiter DEcrée to Moyses God did then and to the head rulers To worship him the whiche dooth dwel on hie aboue the starres The law was tolde and all the rout with voice therto obayes So Moyses went vp to the mount and bode there fortie dayes The xxv chapiter EUen then to him did God describe the fashion of his place His tabernacle how to build in euery point and cace He promised that in that house with Moyses he would treat Betwéen the Cherubs in their place whiche was his mercy seat The xxvi xxvii chapiter FOorth on is tolde in these two next chapters of Exodus Whiche was declarde to Moyses there as God did it discus How that his holy place and house whiche was his temple tho Should be as he had it deuisde wherby he might it knowe The xxviii chapiter GOd did also to him describe how Aaron should be clad Suche garments might the people tel what office Aaron had A brest lap and a tunicle a strait cote vnder that With other things that he must were whether he stood or sat The xxix chapiter HOw Aaron should a Préest be made to him was reuelated With all his sonnes after what sorte they should be consecrated And God to him did promise then that he would be their God â—nd they should knowe he had theÌ„ saued from Pharao and his rod. The xxx chapiter INioynd an aulter he must make theron to burn incence â—lso on it to reconcile yéerly for their offence â— brasen lauer he must make to washe and make all clean The anointing oyl with all the rest more holy things did mean The xxxi chapiter KNowledge two men theÌ„ had of God to woork the holy things The Saboth eke and day of rest God vnto Moyses minges â—nd Tables twain the Lord did giue to Moyses on the hil â—herin were writ the ten preceptê whiche was th'almighties wil. The xxxii chapiter LIke fooles a calfe was made there whilâ— the people were so vain And Moyses praid to God for them and burst the tables twain When he came down he chod the préest and burnt the calfe in fire Moyses earnestly praid for them yet some were paid their hire The xxxiii chapiter MArche on forward God to them bad that they should thense depart But God denide to go with them they were of froward hart And when the people hard therof they did lament in minde Moyses willed to sée Gods face and saw him but behinde The xxxiiii chapiter NOw were the tables made again and God his mercy plight To cope with gentles or their Gods it is forbidden quite The swéet bread feast is first begon and Saboth day is tolde The first frutes Moyses heard exprest whose face did shine like golde The xxxv chapiter OF diuers things to them is tolde that is afore exprest To offer tithes and pay their frutes eche one of them was prest Bezaleel Ahaliab whiche wrought in silk and sayes The tabernacle they must make and Moyses dooth them praise The xxxvi chapiter PLentie of things did these two make as God gaue them in gift Kings of golde and curtens eke to run all in a drift The people brought suche store of stuffe that there was ouer muche Willing they were to build Gods house and for to make it riche The xxxvii chapiter QUite all of wood the Ark
on them wo Because in welth they would not hearâ— their pride should come ful lowe The xxiii Chapiter CUrse he dooth héer froÌ„ God his mouth suche pastours as doo féed Them selues and let the flock alone God wil them pay in déed And pastours pure he wil prouide wherof one shall be chéef From Dauids house as King to guide by him to haue reléef The xxiiii Chapiter DEclare God dooth by baskets twaine with Figs bothe good and bad What should become vpon the flock as he decréed had Whiche was that some should haue return and liue in rest and peace The King should not with many mo whose hartê he could not pearce The xxv Chapiter EXiled men in Babilon the Iewes for sin should bée Ful seuentie yéeres the Prophet saith in their captiuitie At which yéeres end that mightie power shalbe subuerted quite And in like wise he telth before all rule shall lose their might The xxvi Chapiter FUl earnestly he dooth them mooue their sinnes for to repent They brought him foorth he telth his tale the Iudges did relent But Vriah who fled for fear was fetcht from Egipt land Iehoyaku of Iudah King him slue with swoord in hand The xxvii Chapiter GOd willed him that he should send bothe yokes and bonds also To Princes for to testify in bondage they should go And who so would refuse to serue Nabuchodonozer Should plagued be therfore he wilth false Prophets not to hear The xxviii Chapiter HAnaniah the Prophet false did prophecy a lie And Ieremy did him reprooue afore great company Also a freshe he prophecied because his yoke was burst That bondage muche should come to them and that therto then trust The xxix Chapiter IN written woords he sent to them that then in Babel were That they should plant wed and pray for suche as ruled there For seuentie yéeres should passe and go ere they should turn again And in that space their land and power should wasted be and slain The xxx Chapiter KNowledge again froÌ„ Ieremies mouth was giuen to Israel That they should home again return within their land to dwel And how that God would him reuenge vpon their furious foes But comfort his afflicted Churche and saue her from her woes The xxxi Chapiter LArge blessing héer he telth to come when home they should return All ioy shall come and plesantnes to suche as once did mourn A couenant new within their hartê also he plight to make That he would be their God in déed if they not him forsake The xxxii Chapiter MAny were the miseries that Ieremy did sustain For now he is in prison cast for speaking out so plain A féeld he bought and hid the book that did record the same His prayers he made and once again their turning home did name The xxxiii Chapiter NOw is the Prophet wild to pray for their return and rest Whiche ful and whole is graunted them as they had had it erst With pardon for their former sinnes without their owne desartê And Christe to reign in Dauids throne for euer in their hartê The xxxiiii Chapiter OF Zedechiah who was King of Iuda what should come How he should taken be and his when Cittie and all is wun Because the couenant they did break to bond folke that they made Their lot with pine or pestilence should be or els with blade The xxxv Chapiter PUt foorth he dooth as God him bade the Rechabites for lore Who would not break the olde preceptê from fathers had tofore But Iewishe pride would not obey though often they were warnd Therfore to ruine they should go the Rechabites not harmd The xxxvi Chapiter QUenched lest y t his woords should be God bad to write them all So Baruch did and red the role before bothe great and small The King a little heard of it and burnt the book in fire Again with more it written was and God prouokte to ire The xxxvii Chapiter RIght soon as Zedechiah reignd to Ieremy he sent To pray for him By Egipt power the Caldeys away went As Ieremy was prest away in dungeon was he cast But when the King had talkt with him he begd a better taste The xxxviii Chapiter SO fairly spake the councellours the Princes eares vntil That Ieremy to dungeon went there thought they him to kil An Enuche black his life did saue and drue him vp with cordes The King and he did talke alone he might not tel the Lords The xxxix Chapiter THe Babel power the Cittie took and Zedechiah fled He was ouer caught his sonnes were slain his eyes put out of his hed The poore alone are left in land and Ieremy at large Who gaue them more that did him good a comfortable charge The xl Chapiter UNto two things the Prophet had a choise at wil to chuse Babel to sée or tary stil the first he did refuse Suche as for fear were fled away to Godoliah came Whom Babel King had left to rule all Iudah that he wan The xli Chapiter A Murder foule committed was of Ismael by name For Godoliah he did kil who did deserue no blame And diuers more that wicked man their liues did also end And fled to King of Moabites who therfore did him send The xlii Chapiter BOthe moste and least to Ieremy came his councel to haue And willed him to knowe of God whiche way them selues to saue Who willed them in any wise to Egipt not to wend For if they did that whiche they feard their God would it them send The xliii Chapiter COntrary to their former graunt to Egipt néeds they would The Prophet checkt and Baruch eke who néeds with them they should And there did God by Ieremy tel Egipt of her fall How Nebuchadnezer in place should rule their Gods and all The xliiii Chapiter DEclare he dooth vnto the Iewes for their Idolatrie In Egipt land the whiche they did that they should surely die But men and wiues with froward hartê did tel what they did deem We neuer throue sins that we left to serue the heauenly Quéen The xlv Chapiter EUilly appaid was Baruch then he thought his life but lost His sorrowes did increace in him séeing the Iewes so tost But Ieremy him comfort gaue and set his hart at stay For God he said hath giuen to thée thy life to be a pray The xlvi Chapiter FRom God he speaks to Egipt land and telleth them ful plain How that the King of Babilon withall his mightie train Should them destroy and eke their King their God and mightie power But yet his chosen Iacobs séed he would not quite deuour The xlvii Chapiter GOd bad him tel the Philistins of their decay and end That parents to suche wo should come their Children not to tend How they of Tire and Zidon eke should wasted be also The wrath of God not ceasing til their pride were come ful lowe The xlviii Chapiter HE telleh to the Moabites their ruine and decay Who once like churles to Israel vngraciously did say He curseth
him tolde what therby he should gain The viii Chapiter HE yet again dooth tel the heads how they the poor oppresse And vsed shameful robbery in making measures lesse â–ª For whiche they should be ouer run and perishe with the swoord A famine he would send on them the wanting of his woord The ix Chapiter IF all the wayes they séek they can yet shall they not put by But bothe the temple and them selues he wil them bothe destroy Yet wil he fift as in a â—iue his chosen from the rest And home they shall return again and liue in quiet rest FINIS ¶ This Shepheard he hath tolde his minde that came from keeping sheep â–ª Now Obadiah dooth come in to comfort them that weep The Prophecy of Obadiah The first Chapiter A Prophecy he dooth declare against the Edomites For vexing of their Uncles kin in their malitious spices And when that they destroyed be for hurting Iacob so Then shall the Churche ful quiet be and rid from all their wo. FINIS ¶ So dooth this Prophet end his woords more speeche he dooth not vse Now Ionas you shall hear to tel to Niniuie her newes The Prophecy of Ionas The first Chapiter AS God him bad he would not doo but fled another way In ship a tempest did arise they cast him in the sea In dooing so they pardon axt a Whale did him deuoure Thrée dayes and nightê the fishes womb was vnto him a boure The ii chapiter BEing thus of the fishe possest his prayer he did make Protesting suche as followe lies Gods mercies they forsake But Ionas saith that he wil pay the vowes he took in hand As God did wil so did the Whale this Prophet cast on land The iii. chapiter COmmaunded was he once again to Niniuie to shew In fortie dayes they mending not God would them ouerthrowe A fasting then proclaymed was the King and they repented For mending of their former life God stayd that was inuented The iiii Chapiter DIspleased greatly Ionas was that Niniuie was sparde Without the Cittie in a boothe ther angerly he farde A gourd sprang vp and shaded him that it decayd he chod For Niniuee he cared lesse so is he tolde of God FINIS ¶ Heer Ionas book is finished in chapters foure set out Now Michah shall appeer to you the same we go about The Prophecy of Michah The first Chapiter AS God him bad he spareth not but plainly dooth he tel That down should go the kingdoms bothe of Iuda and Israel This was the cause Idolatrie that foully they did vse For whiche the power of forren folke should them and theirs abuse The ii Chapiter BEcause the mightie men did spoile the poor of house and féeld He telleth them God would them plagin their foes should make them yéeld They wantonly did mock and skorne the preachers that did preache He that of wine would preache to them he beâ—â— of all did teache The iii. Chapiter CRy out he dooth against the heds that did the people spoile And sayth their cry it should be heard when they should haue the foile Their Prophets did for money preache the rulers built in blood Their glorious state shuld therfore down in Gods displeasing mood The iiii Chapiter DEuine he dooth that Christe his Churche shall floorishe ouer all And that far of to serue the Lord one shall another call Their worldly cares warlike minde shall quite be laid aside Though some conspire their ouerthrow it shall not so betide The v. chapiter ERe that they should attain this peace muche troubles should they haue Hierusalem with all her power her self shée should not saue But Bethlehem Ephraita that little was in sight A Captain foorth should bring to them of endles power and might The vi Chapiter FOr them what God had doon he telth therby them to prouoke That righteousnes they might embrace and were an humble yoke False weightê mesures they did vse the people to deceiue Therfore the poyson of their frutes with labour lost should leaue The vii Chapiter GReatly now dooth he mourn because so few did fear the Lord No trust in fréend could then be found their liues were to vntoward But yet he wilth the foes to stop to rage against his flock Affirming God to kéep his graunt to Abram and his stock FINIS ¶ The minde of Michah you haue heard a tale ful plain he tolde Now Nahum speaks to Niniuie a Prophet sharp and bolde The Prophecy of Nahum The first Chapiter ALmightie Lord is God in déed his power it passeth all All loftie things he can destroy and kéep his fréends from thrall The wicked shall consumed be that Iuda did molest So should their feastê be kept again and they should liue in rest The ii Chapiter BEholde as Iacob was destroyd so should th' Assirian power The Caldies should with force might their land and them deuour Their Quéen as captiue should be led their treasures quite bereft Their mightie men so Lionlike to them should not be left The iii. Chapiter CAst down God wil the Niniuites that â—â—owed so in pride The glory that that Cittie had it should be set aside â–ª Their multitude should not them help nor mighty men them ayd Their Cittie burnt their land destroyd the wrath should not be stayd FINIS ¶ VVhat Nahum said to Niniuie to you hath been exprest Now Abacuck his Prophecy it com'th among the rest The Prophecy of Abacuck The first Chapiter ALl wickednes did flowe at â—il no sinful life did want The law put by and righteousnes among them then was sâ—ant Because the godly went to wrack the Caldeys God would raise To teache them fishe as fishers doo and make of them their prayes The ii Chapiter BE bolde of this ye prideful men your pride shall come ful lowe But righteous men by faith shall liue your fall the world shall knowe The couetous and blooddy men the drunkards in his fre The Idoll and the worshipper shalbe consumde with fire The iii. Chapiter CAll vnto God the Prophet dooth and for his Churche dooth pray Describing God his maiestie in power to passe for ay Beséeching him his foes to strike with mercy to correct His chosen flock and thus he ends his book to muche effect FINIS ¶ Thus Abacuck hath tolde his tale ful boldely to the Iewes And Sophoniah commeth next to tel them the same newes The Prophecy of Sophoniah The first Chapiter ALl liuing things the Lord wil stroy with man for his offence And Iuda and Hierusalem should haue their recompence A woful ruine wil he make for halting in their faith Their strength their goods shuld not theÌ„ help but perishe they should he saith The ii Chapiter BEfore his wrath doo come in déed he wilth them to repent The kingdomes of the Philistines for sin it should be rent The Moabites the Ammonites for ioying Israels fall With Morians and Niniuites should be destroyed all The iii. Chapiter COrrupted were the Iudges all the préestê and