to obed c. 4. II Narrative containing the main bulk and substance of the book c. 5. to 32. viz. The Law and Confirmation thereof I. The Law shewing the way of well living 1. Universall c. 5. 2. Particular where Of the Decalogues Principle and things Principled 1. The Principle of the Decalogue is Gods love whereof you have 1. The Proposition Wherein note 1. The manner and object of it c. 6. 2. The opposites Idolatry c. 7. Ingratitude c. 8. Pride c 9. 2. The Conclusion c. 10. 2. The things Principled touching 1. The place of divine worship c. 11 12. 2. The manner c. 13.14 3. The time c. 15.16 4. The persons which are to performe worship to him Who are informed according to the three parts of the soule and this either joyntly or severally Jointly 1. According to the Rationall part Where Of persons Ecclesiasticall and Politicall together c. 17. Of persons Ecclesiasticall apart c. 18. Of persons Politicall apart c. 19. 2. According to the Irascible part in case of war c. 20. 3. According to the Concupiscible part c. 21 22. Severally where are both Lawes c. 23 24 25. And the close of them c. 26. II. The confirmation of the Law by certain Arguments viz. 1. Signes c. 27. 2. Promises and threats c. 28. 3. By solemn renewing of the Covenant partly 1 By word Comminatory c. 29. Promissory c. 30. 2 By writing and instruments c. 31. III. Conclusion of the whole book c. 32 33 34. Which is either I. Propheticall and Hortatory wherein is a double Prophecy 1. Common touching the Church of the Jewes till the time of the Messiah c. 32. 2. Speciall containing the blessing of the 12 Tribes c. 33. 2. Historicall concerning the death of Moses c. 34. IJ. THE PROPHETS THe PROPHETS wrote all the Bookes of the Old Testament besides the Pentateuch of Moses These Prophets inspired infallibly by the Holy-Spirit of Prophecy wrote Books of three severall sorts viz. 1 Historicall 2 Dogmaticall or Doctrinall and 3 Propheticall The Hebrews thus distinguish the Books of the Old Testament 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thorah i. e. The Law viz. the five books of Moses 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nebiâ—m i. e. The Prophets The Prophets they distinguish into two sorts viz. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nebiim Rishonim i. e. The former Prophets perhaps so called because they treat of the first Prophets These are foure viz. Ioshua Iudges Samuel and Kings And 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nebiim Acharonim i. e. the later Prophets which they reckon up in foure Books also viz. Isaiah Ieremiah Ezekiel and the twelve minor Prophets which were anciently joyned all in one volume lest they through their smalnesse should be lost That phrase seemes to favour this It is written in the Book of the Prophets Act. 7.42 the Prophet Amos being cited which is one of the Minor or lesser Prophets 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The writings by way of emphasis See the Reason hereof in Rivet Isag. ad sucr scrip c. 29. Sect. 16. The Greek cals these Books 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hagiographa i. e. The holy writings upon some such ground Of this sort are eleven in this order in Hebrew Ruth Psalmes Iob Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Lamentations Daniel Esther Ezra Chronicles under Ezra comprehending Nehemiah which sometimes is called the second of Ezra and the two Books of the Chronicles being reckoned as but one Book But the former Distribution of the PROPHETS bookes into 1 Historicall 2 Doctrinall and 3 Propheticall being both more consonant to the matter of these books and to the method of our Bibles shall here be followed I. HISTORICAL BOOKS THE HISTORICAL BOOKS of the Prophets Relate the History of the Jewes and of the Church of God among them from the death of Moses which was when he was one hundred and twenty years old Deut. 34.7 Ioseph Ant. l. 4. c. 3. In 2493 year of the world Helvic untill the Period of the Persian Monarchy possessed by Alexander the Macedonian called Alexander the great who conquered the Persians and got Dominion of Asia about Ann. 3614 after the worlds Creation Helvic in Chronolog So that these Books contain an History of about 1121 years continuance Of this History of the Jews and of the Church of God there are two Principall Parts or Periods viz. 1. Of the Israelites Entrance into the promised land 2. Of their Government and Condition after that entrance Joshuah 1. ISraels entrance into the promised land is described in the Book of JOSHUAH So called from the chiefe subject handled therein viz. The Acts of Ioshuah the successour of Moses the Governour and chiefe Captaine of Israel under whose conduct they conquered the Land Divided it by Line and Lot among the Tribes and possessed it according to all Gods faithfull promises in that behalfe unto their Fathers Josh. 21.43 44 45. 23.14 15. Penman of this Booke some conceive to be Ioshuah because it beares his name But that Reason is not cogent 1 partly because the Bookes of Iudges Ruth and Kings bear their name yet not Penned by them 2 partly because the denomination of this Book is rather from the Subject matter then the Author Other thinke Eleazer the High-Priest whose death is recorded Iosh. 24.33 Gathered together the chief materials of which this Booke is compiled It being the Priests duty to leave upon Record all memorable Ecclesiastical affairs for the benefit of after ages and propagation of Religion This more probable but not certain Alsted Praecog Theol. l. 2. c. 119. Iohan. Calvin Argument in Lib. Iosuae This book containes an History of almost eighteene yeeres viz. From the death of Moses to the death of Joshuah Iun. Arg. in lib. Iehosh Gerh. loc prim de Scriptura in exegesi Sect. 125. Scope Of this booke to demonstrate Gods exact faithfulnesse in performing all his Promises made to the Fathers that all his people may be encouraged to trust to him the better for ever Iosh. 21.45 23.14 15. Principall parts In this Book is an History of Ioshuah's Life and Death I. Of Ioshua's Life Wherein consider 1. His vocation God cals him to be Governour of Israel in Moses stead c. 1. 2. His Administration both in time of warre and Peace 1. In time of warre Whereof is laid down 1. A Narration 1. Of sending the Spies to search the Land c. 2. 2. Of the passing thorow Jordan where The Antecedent passages and manner of it c. 3. The Consequents upon it c. 4.5 3. Of the Seiges and Victories His first Victory over Jericho c. 6. The impediment of his proceedings the Accursed thing c. 7. His manifold and happy successe after removal of the Accursed thing he conquered all the Country c. 8 9 10 11. 2. A Repetition of his warlike exploits c. c. 12. 2. In time of Peace Wherein are 1. The distribution of the land of Canaan under which are described 1 The borders of the Land c.
13. 2 The manner of the distribution by Lot c. 14. 3 The parties among whom the Land was divided viz. The Israelites c 15. to 20. 4 The menslayers c. c. 20 5 The Levites c. 21. 2. The dismission and remanding of the Reubenites Gadites half tribe of Manasseh to their Lot on the other side Iordan c. 22 3. The exhortation and charge of Joshuah to the people before his death c. 23. II. Of Ioshuah's death and the things immediately Antecedent and Consequent thereto c. 24. II. Israels condition and Government after their entrance into the Promised Land Which is Historically described what it was 1. Before their carrying away into Babylon 2. During the Captivity 3. After the Captivity I. Before their carrying away into Babylon and that either under the Iudges or the Kings I. Vnder the Iudges And here we have two Histories viz. One Common and Generall Another Particular Judges I. THe Common or Generall History is the Book of IUDGES so called not from the Authors of it but from the subject matter of it in Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shophtim i. e. Iudges Penman of this Book the Hebrewes thinke to be Samuel Alsted Praecog Theol. l. 2. c. 119. Oâ—hers thinke that every Iudge recorded the things acted in his owne dayes respectively and that Samuel or Ezra or Ieremiah or King Hezekiah whose men copied out some of Solomons Proverbs Prov. 25.1 collected and digested them into one volume Hugo Cardinalâ—s in Prolog in hunc lib. This book containes an History of Israels Politie and the state thereof from the death of Ioshuah till the Priesthood of Eli. How during that time Israel oftimes Apostatized from God for which God delivered them into their enemies hands but upon their conversion to him he saved them by Iudges raised up from among their Tribes out of their enemies hands It is an History of about 299 years which may be thus computed From Ioshuah's death to Othniel's 40 y. Iudg. 3.11 From Othniel's death to Ehud's and Shamgar's 80 y. 3.30 Thence to Deborah's death 40 y. 5 31. Thence to Gideons death-40 y. 8 28 Thence to Abimilech's death 3 y. 9 22. Thence to Tholah's death 23 y. 10 2 Thence to Iair's death 22 y. 10 3 Thence to Iephte's death 6 y. 12 7 Thence to Ibzan's death 7 y. 12 9 Thence to Elon's death 10 y. 12 11 Thence to Abdon's death 8 y. 12 14 Thence to Samson's death-20 y. 16 31 Scope of this book to shew what happy Haleyonian dayes Gods Church enjoyes under pious magistrates How severe God is against the sins especially the idolatry of his own people and yet how he remembers mercy in midst of severest judgements Principall parts This book being a Glasse discovering Israels calamity and the cause thereof their sin Describes their sin I. As General Universal and Common to all the tribes viz. by the 1. Kinds or sorts of their sinnes 1. Negligence in driving the Canaanites out of the land c. 1. 2. Perfidiousnesse in Apostatizing from God to Idols c. 2. 2. Effects or fruits of their sinnes viz. Five severall oppressions by their enemies i. e. 1. Syrians c. 3. 2. Canaanites c. 4. and 5. 3. Midianites where of Gideon's 1. Call c. 6. 2. Acts Polemical c. 7. and Political c. 8. 3 Successour Abimilech c. 9. 4. Ammonites Here 1. The cause and effect of the oppression Israels Apostacy and Repentance c. 10. 2. The Remedy viz. warre undertaken against Ammonites c. 11. Ephraimites c. 12. 5. Philistines Sampson being avenger Samsons Birth c. 13. Prosperity c. 14. adversity c. 15. and death c. 16. are at large delineated II. As speciall viz. 1. Idolatry Of one family c. 17. Of the Tribe of Dan c. 18. 2. Lust of uncleannesse Perpetrated c. 19. Punished c. 20 21. Ruth II THe particular History under the Iudges is the Book of RUTH so stiled from RUTH the Moabitesse a Gentile Moab being one of the incestuous sons of Lot Gen. 18. concerning whom this Book treats especially of her marriage with Boaz whose Pedigree by a Prophetick spirit is brought down to K. David Ruth 4.18 to the end Ruth bearing to Boaz Obed the Grandfather of David of whom according to the flesh Christ came Matth. 1.5 6. The Chald. Paraphrast thinks that Ruth was the daughter of Eglon King of Moab but that is not proved by any Scripture nor is it likely that a Kings daughter would marry a Stranger and leave her native Countrey to seek bread in another land saith Gerh. Augustine refers the time of this History to the Beginning of the Kings Aug. l. 2. de Doctrin Christian c. 8. Ioseph l. 5. Antiq. and Hugo Cardinalis referre it to the time of Eli the Priest D. Kimchi in c. 1. Ruth and other of the Rabbines as some note conceive That Boaz who married Ruth was that Judge which is called Ibzan Judg. 12.8 who immediately succeeded Iephte Iunius and Tremellius comparing this History of Ruth with Matth. 1.5 are of opinion that this History fell out in the dayes of Deborah Annot in Ruth 1.1 But it s certaine it fell out in the time of the Iudges Ruth 1.1 though the particular time perhaps cannot so punctually be demonstrated Penman of this History is not certainly knowne Hebrews thinke Samuâ—l penned it Alsted in Praecog Theol. l. 2. c. 119. Many Writers annex this Book of Ruth as an Appendix to the Book of Iudges as they do the Lamentations to the Prophecy of Ieremiah Andr. Rivet Isag. ad sacr Script c. 29. p. 501. Scope of this Book To delineate part of the Genealogy of Christ Ruth 4.18 c. compared with Mat. 1.5.6 And to shew that salvation by Iesus Christ belongs to sinners of the Gentiles as well as to the Iewes Christ deriving his line not only from Iewes but also from Gentiles and sinners for the raising up of their Hope and Consolation in him Principall parts In this History are described 1. Ruths Distresse in her widowhood c. 1. 2. Ruths Deliverance from this distresse which is 1. Inohoate 1. By her gleaning in Boaz his field with his approbation c. 2. 2. By her lodging at Boaz his feet in the threshing floor at her mothers appointment he being a neer Kinsman c. 3. 2. Consummate By Boaz his marrying of her c. 4. II. Vnder the Kings And here we have three Histories compiled in six books viz. the two Books of Samuel the two Books of Kings and the two Books of Chronicles which Histories set forth the State of the Kingdome of Israel three wayes viz. 1. As the Kingdome was Vnited of which the two Books of Samuel 2. As The Kingdome was Divided of which the two Books of Kings 3. As the Kingdom was both Vnited and Divided of which the two Books of Chronicles As Trelcatius in Oeconomiâ Bibliorum well observes And as the matter of these Histories doth clearly evince I. The UNITED State of the Kingdome of Israel is described what it was both under the
Kings 1. By Election and 2. By Succession And how it increased and flourished whilest so united I Samuel I UNder Kings by ELECTION The kingdomes Condition is recorded in the I. Book OF SAMUEL So called either from the matter or subject herein handled viz. The History of SAMUEL which takes up a great part of the Book As Alsted in Praecog Theol. l. 2. c. 120. Or also from the instrumentall efficient cause or Penman of this of this Book Samuel being supposed to have penned this Book till c. 25. David the rest Gloss. ordinar Iunius and Trem. are of opinion that Samuel had a great share in penning of these two Books that bare his name and that Nathan the Prophet and Gad the Seer penned part thereof from that intimation 1 Chron. 29.29 which words of Samuel Nathan and Gad seem to be the two Books of Samuel penned by them three Iun. in Annot. in 1 Chron. 29.29 By the Greek and Latin it is also called the 1. Book of Kings because the later part of it containes the History of Saul the first King of Israel This history treats of the last Judges viz. Eli and Samuel and of the first King viz. Saul Declaring when and upon what occasion the Lord changed the government by Iudges into a Regall government viz. In days of Samuel and upon occasion of the extreame wickednesse of both Elye's and Samuels Sons c. 1. to 9. As also how Saul carryed himselfe both in life and death and how God prepared David for the Throne Saul being rejected It is an history of about 80 yeeres continuance viz. Under Ely 40 yeeres 1 Sam. 4.18 And under Samuel and Saul 40 yeeres Act. 13.21 Scope To discover mans mutability but Gods immutability in all the Revolutions and alterations of Families and Common-wealths viz. In their Constitution Administration and Alteration Principall parts This booke treats of the affaires of Israel under a double kind of civill Government I. Aristocraticall under Samuel the Prophet and Judge Whose 1. Birth is recorded c. 1. 2. Calling Where of Eli his Predecessour and of his Sonnes whose I. Grievous sinne is recorded c. 2. II. Severe punishment is 1 Foretold by Samuel c. 3. 2. Inflicted by God where of the warre Acted c. 4. Finished where we have a descriptiâ—n 1. Of the Philistines punishment c. 5. And of their restoring the captivated Ark c. 6. 2. Of Israels Repentance c. 7. II. Monarchicall under a King 1. To be elected what a one he was like to be c. 8. 2. Actually elected what a one he proved evidenced in Saul David 1. Saul described 1. As elected where are laid down his calling c. 9. Unction c. 10. Warlike successe c. 11. 2. As rejected The causes of which rejection are recited viz. 1. The peoples sin c. 12. 2. Sauls unbeliefe c. 13. Rashnesse in judging c. 14. And disobedience c. 15. 2. David Touching whom are declared His 1. Election Where note 1. His call c. 16. 2. His Preparatory 1 conquest of Goliath c. 17. 2 Advancement into Sauls family c. 18. 2. Ejection David being exiled 1. In his own Country c. 19 20. 2. Out of his Country c. 21. to 30. 3. Advancement 1. By his Victory c. 30. 2. By Saul's Death c. 31. II Samuel II UNder Kings by SUCCESSION In this respect the Kingdome 's state is declared in the II. of SAMUEL So called for Reasons formerly mentioned It s also by the Greek and Latin stiled The second Book of Kings because therein the History of David the second King of Israel is continued This is an History of about 40 yeeres continuance 2 Sam. 5.5 An History of Davids Kingdome may well be called The Annals of David Penman some thinke to be the High-Priest or some Disciple of Samuel who yet for honours sake gave the Booke his Masters name Alsted Praecog Theol. l. 2. c. 120. But rather it is probable that the latter part of the I. Of Samuel and this whole Booke of the II. Of Samuel were Penned by Nathan the Prophet and Gad the Seer 1 Chron. 29.29 Scope To declare Gods Faithfulnesse in delivering of his own from distresses That divers great infirmities are incident to Gods uprightest servants And That like checker-worke their prosperity is intermingled with crosses and calamities Principal Parts In this Booke which is a description of Davids Kingdome we have a Narration of Davids 1 Life and 2 Death I. Davids Life is represented as it was 1 Glorious and as it was 2 Ignominious 1. As it was Glorious in his Royall inauguration Where consider things 1. Antecedent viz. 1. His mourning for Sauls death c. 1. 2. His returne into Judea c. 2. 3. His war with the House of Saul c. 3.4 2. Concomitant He is confirmed King by all Israel c. 5. 3. Consequent viz. 1. Ecclesiasticall as His fetching up the Ark to Sion c. 6. His purpose of building God an House c. 7. 2. Polemicall or warlike c. 8. 3. Politicall or civil c. 9 10. 2. As it was Ignominious and that 1. By his sins Adultery and Murder committed c. 11. corrected c. 12. 2. By his sorrowes 1. Private 1. In Amnon by his Incest c. 13. 2. In Absolom where are declared his Restitution c. 14. His Sedition begun c. 15. Continued c. 16. Concluded c. 17 18 19. 2. Publique 1. Sedition of the people c. 20. 2. Famine three yeeres c. 21. II. Davids death Occurrents Antecedent thereunto 1. His gratulatory and laudatory Psalme c. 22 2 His sweet Swanlike Song and Testament c. 23. 3. The Pestilence upon his numbring the people c. 24. II. The DIVIDED state of the Kingdome of Israel and how upon that division it decreased and came to ruine is laid down in the two Books of Kings This dâ—vision and decay of the Kingdome is laid downe two wayes 1. According to the causes and Beginnings thereof 2. According to the Progresse thereof I Kings I. ACcording to the causes and first beginnings of this Division and decay thereupon ensuing These are set forth in the I. of KINGS This book is stiled in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Melacim i. e. 1. Of Kings By the Greek and Latine the III. of Kings The history of the Kings both of Iudah and Israel being the subject matter of the book In this book the causes and first beginnings of the Kingdomes division and decay are laid downe partly by way of Opposition of the flourishing state of Davids kingdome united under Solomon c. 1. to c. 11. Partly by way of Exposition of the occasions viz. Solomons sinnes Gods justice Solomons death c. 11. and of the first beginnings of the division and decay of the kingdome under Rehoboam to whom onely two Tribes were left subject Iudah and Benjamin 1 King 11.21 And under Ieroboam to whom the other tenne Tribes revolted and afterwards under their successours severally So that in this book are the Acts of five Kings of Iudah after Solomon viz. Rehoboam â—bijam Asa Iehoshaphat Iehoram and of eight Kings
of Israel viz. Ieroboam Nadab Baasha Elah Zimri Omri and Tibni Ahab Ahaziah This is an history of 118. yeeres viz. Under Solomon 40 yeeres 1 King 11.42 Under the rest of Kings of Iudah 78. yeeres for Rehoboam Reigned 17 yeeres 1 King 17.31 Abâ—jam 3 yeeres 1 King 15.2 Asa 41. yeeres 1 King 15.10 Iehoshaphat 17. yeers 1 King 22.51 In all 118 yeeres Penman of this book and also of the second booke of Kings is conceived not to be any one man but divers Though the Hebrewes would have them to be written by Ieremiah Others think that the Churches history which was written by divers was digested and collected into volumes either by Eâ—ra Gerh. loc Com. 1 de Scriptura in Exegesi § 129. Or by the chiefe Priests and Prophets as the Churches Pub. Actuariâ—s Alsted Proecog Theol. l. 2. c. 120. However it seemes evident that the beginning of 1. of Kings touching Solomons Reign was written by Nathan Abijah and Iddo 2 Chron. 9.29 See Iun. in loc And other parts by Iehu son of Canani 2 Chron. 20.3 See Iun. Annot ibid. And by the Prophet Isaiah as Iunius thinks partly in his Prophecy parâ—ly in the Book of Kings 2 Chron. 26.22 Scope To shew how the Piety of Kings preserves their kingdomes in unity and flourishing Prosperity But the sins and wickednesse of Kings especially their idolatry whereby they divide themselves from God brings Divisions into their Kingdomes and consequently ruine upon themselves their families and Dominions Principall parts might be pointed out according to the periods of every severall Kings reigne but rather thus This book containes the increase and decrease of the kingdome of Israel I. Increase of the Kingdome under Solomon whose Life and Death are recorded 1. Solomons Life Therein consider his 1. Election c. 1 2. 2. Administration or Government of the Kingdâ—m where note 1. His great Prudence c. 3 4. 2. His Magnificence in Building The Temple c. 5 6 8. His own house In Lebanon c. 7. The Kings house more publique c. 9. 3. His condition Prosperous c. 10. Adverse c. 11. 2. Solomons death c. 11. II. Decrease of the Kingdom once Divided and this under 1. The Kings of Iudah 1. Rehoboam c. 12 14. 2. Abijah c 15.3 Asa c. 15. 4. Iehoshaphat c 22. 5 Iehoram c. 22. ver 50. 2. The Kings of Israel contemporary to the Kings of Iudah viz. 1. Ieroboam c. 12 13 14. 2 Nadab c. 15. 3. Baasha c. 16.4 Elah 5. Zimri 6. Omri c. 16.7 Ahab 1 whose stock is recorded c. 16. from ver 28. 2 Whose prosperous state is declared In respect of Elijahs Presence Here are considered Elijah's Ambassadge to the King c. 17 18. Elijah's exile c. 19. In respect of Ahabs double victory c. 20. 3 Whose Acts and manners are described c. 21. 4 Whose Death is delineated c. 22. 8. Ahaziah c. 22. ver 51. c. II Kings 2. ACcording to the Progresse and Growth of the Kingdom 's division and the miserable calamities growing and increasing thereupon This is related in the 11. of KINGS called in Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 11. Melacim i. c. The second of Kings By the Greek and Latin The IV. of Kings The History of the Kings being still continued in this Book This Book is an History of about 320. years under 12. Kings of Israel and 16. Kings of Iudah Vnder 12. Kings of Israel 162 years Ahazia 1 yeare 1 Kings 22.52 Ioram 11 yeare 2 Kings 3.1 8.25 Iehu 28 yeare 2 Kings 10.36 Iehoahaz 17 yeare viz. 15 alone and two with his son 2 Kings 13.1.10 Ioash 16 yeare 2 Kings 13.10 Ieroboam 41 yeare 2 Kings 14.23 Zechariah 6 moneths 2 Kings 15.8 Shallum 1 moneth 2 Kings 15.13 Menachem 10 yeare 2 Kings 15.17 Pekachijah 2 year 2 Kings 15.23 Pekah 20 year 2 Kings 15.27 Hosheah who reigned 18 y. viz. 9 y. free 2 Kings 17.1 and 9. y. a tributary to the King of Assyria by whom at last he was carried captive ver 6. Vnder 16 Kings of Iudah 320 year Iehoram 12 y. viz. 8. alone and 4. with his father Iehoshaphat 2 Kings 8.17 Ahazia 1. y. 2 King 8.26 Athalia 6 year 2 Kings 11.3 Ioash 40. y. 2 King 12.1.39 Iunius Amaziah 29 yeare 12 of which in exile 2 Kings 14.2 Azariah or Vzziah 52. yeare 2 Kings 15 5. Iotham 16. yeare 2 King 15.33 15. yeare Iun. Ahaz 16. yeare 2 Kings 16.2 14. year Iun. Hezekiah 29. year 2 King 18.2 Manasses 55. yeare 2 King 21.2 Ammon 2 yeare 2 Kings 21.19 Iosiah 31. yeare 2 King 22.1 Ioahaz 3. moneths 2 Kings 23.36 Ichoiakim 11 yeare 2 Kings 23.36 Ichoiachin three moneths 2 Kings 24.8 Zedekiah 11. year 2 Kings 24.18 Thence till Iehoiakins advancement 26. year 2 Kings 25.27 30. Penmen of this 11. of Kings See in Penmen of 1. of Kings Scope to delineate Gods verity in his Promises and Threats together with his severity in his judgements The continuall Revolution of Families and States The mischief of sin especially in Magistrates dividing them and their people from God and consequently themselves amongst themselves till both Kings people and Kingdomes be ripe and ready for desolation Principall parts may be considered either according to the Reign of the severall Kings of Israel and Iudah as afore Or as followeth This Book declareth The state of the Kingdomes of Israel and Iudah together with their defection and declining 1. Severally of the Kingdome of Israel under 1. Ahaziah c. 1.2 2. Ioram where of Elishah's miracles c. 3.4.5 Oracles or Prophecies c 6.7.8 2. Joyntly of Israel and Iudah parallel'd as it were together c. 9. to 18. 3 Severally of the Kingdome of Iudah whose 1. Weakning is recorded 1. Under a good King Hezekiah c. 18. 19.20 2. Under a bad King Manasseh c. 20.21 2. Reparation is indeavoured by Iosiah c. 22.23 3. Subversion is 1. Begun c. 23. 24. 2. Accomplished c. 25. III. The UNITED and DIVIDED State of the kingdome is laid downe in the two Books of Chronicles with some further Additions and Amplifications to the former Histories This is done two wayes I Chron. 1. ACording to the UNITED State of the kingdome in I. OF CHRONICLES so called because the Acts of former times are herein Recorded or Chronicled In Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dihre Haijamim i. e. THE WORDS OF DAYES because they are as a Sacred DIARY reporting the Acts and Occurrents in the Church of God and Civil States both Domestique and Forrein Munsterus not unfitly stiles them Libros Annalium i. e. The Books of Annals Annals barely declaring matters of fact for divers years in order as Gellius notes l. 5. N. A. c. 18. These two Books are the CHVRCHES ANNALS In Greek these two Books are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bibloi Paralipomenon i. e. The Books of things omitted or THE BOOKS OF REMAINES because some things omitted or not fully described in the Pentateuch Ioshuah Iudges Ruth Samuel and Kings are here Summarily explicated and supplyed
This I. of Chron. Principally insists upon the History of David Relating his Genealogy from the first Adam and so forwards towards the second Adam wherein the 12. tribes and their families c. are recorded c. 1. to 10. And his famous Acts c. 10. to the end of the Book so that this Book is a Compendious Chronology of all the former Books to the Books of Kings of things from the worlds Creation till about the yeare 2985. viz. of Genesis 2368 y. All which have been aboue particularly explained and demonstrated So the I. of Chronicles is the longest History of any one Book in the whole Bible Exodus 142. y. All which have been aboue particularly explained and demonstrated So the I. of Chronicles is the longest History of any one Book in the whole Bible The other Books of Moses 39 y. All which have been aboue particularly explained and demonstrated So the I. of Chronicles is the longest History of any one Book in the whole Bible Joshuah 17. almost 18 y. All which have been aboue particularly explained and demonstrated So the I. of Chronicles is the longest History of any one Book in the whole Bible Judges 299 y. All which have been aboue particularly explained and demonstrated So the I. of Chronicles is the longest History of any one Book in the whole Bible I. Of Samuel 80 y. All which have been aboue particularly explained and demonstrated So the I. of Chronicles is the longest History of any one Book in the whole Bible II. Of Samuel 40 y. All which have been aboue particularly explained and demonstrated So the I. of Chronicles is the longest History of any one Book in the whole Bible Hierom calls the Chronicles Instrumenti veteris Epitomen c. The Epitome of the Old Testament and that it is of such Consequence that whosoever would arrogate to himselfe the knowledge of the Scriptures without it doth but mock and abuse himselfe Hieronym in Ep. ad Paulin. And again stiles it Totius divinae Historiae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The Chronicle of the whole Divine History Hier. in Prolog Galeat Penman of this and the second Book is uncertaine R. Salomo R. D. Kimchi think it was Ezra Saith Alsted in Praecog Theol. l. 2. c. 120. Iunius also is of the same judgement Iun. Annot. in 1 King 11.41 and in his argument before 1 Chron. The Argument that generally inclines them all to this opinion is That the same words which are used in the close of the Chronicles 2 Chron. 36.23 are also used in the beginning of Ezra Ezr. 1.1 2 3. Scope The primary Scope of this Book seemes to be this Clearly to describe the Line and Genealogy of CHRIST the Messiah promised to David Abraham and Adam That when in fulnesse of time Christ should be revealed and performed the Church might infallibly know that he was the Promised SEED OF THE WOMAN Principall Parts This first Book of Chron. describes the Israelitish kingdome in its 1 Foundation and 2 Administration I. Foundation Where of 1. The General Genealogy of all Nations from Adam to Iacob c. 1. Here is a Chronicle of 1 The Pentateuch 2 Ioshuah 3. Iudges 2. Particular Geneal of the Nation of Israel by the twelve Tribes c. 2. to 9. Here is a Chronicle of 1 The Pentateuch 2 Ioshuah 3. Iudges II. Administratâ—on under 1 Saul whose 1 Genealogy is in c. 9. 2 Death c. 10. 2 David whose 1. Kingly condition c. 11 12 14. 2 Acts 1 Sacred restoring Gods â—orship in respect of the 1 Place c. 13 15 17 22. 2 Persons ministring in the 1 Tabernacle c. 16 2 Temple c. 23. 24 25 26 Here is a Chronicle of the two Books of Samuel 2 Polemical or Martial c. 18 19 20. 3. Political c. 21.27 3. Death c. 28 29. where is declared how David before his Death in a Solemne Assembly at Ierusalem took his leave of his Kindred Set Solomon or his Throne after he had given him Directions about the Temple and himself with his Princes had offered willingly towards the building of it II Chron 2. ACcording to the UNITED and DIVIDED state of the kingdom in the II of CHRONICLES So called for the reasons formerly alledged This booke relates the history of the Israelitish State from the beginning of king Solomons Reigne till their returne from the Babylonish Captivity which fell out about the first yeare of Cyrus king of Persians Setting down both the union and flourishing condition of the kingdome under Solomon but the division and decay of the kingdome thence ensuing till it came to utter ruine So this book contains an History of about 472 yeeres From Solomon to carrying away of Iechonias 401. As Jun. and Tremell compute In the Captivity 70 As Jun. and Tremell compute Under Cyrus the Persian 1. As Jun. and Tremell compute So that this book is an Epitome or Chronicle of the two Books of Kings with Additions If we consider the books of Samuel Kings and Chronicles all together they containe an Historicall Narration How the kingdome of Israel 1 Began under Samuel 2 Increased under David 3 Flourished under Solomon and 4 Failed under Zedekiah thus it endured almost 565 yeers Penman see in 1. of Chron. Scope For substance the same with that of the two books of Kings Principall parts This book containes an Historicall Narration of the kingdome of Israel's I. Flourishing or increase under King Solomon Touching Solomon are recorded his 1. Vertues c. 1. 2. Buildings 1. Sacred viz. The Temple where 1. His preparation for it c 2. 2. His extruction or building of it viz. Of the Temple contayning c. 3. And of the Holy utensils contayned in it c. 4. 3. His Dedication of the Temple partly by Dedicated things especially the Arke brought into the Temple c. 5. Partly by praise and prayer c. 6. Partly by Sacrifice c. 7. 2. Civil viz. Severall Cities which he builded c. 8. 3. Condition and Death c. 9. II. Fading or decrease under the following Kings of Iudah and Israel the kingdome being divided till the returne from Captivity in the Reigne of Cyrus Where note five concussions of shakings of the Kingdome under these ensuing Kings viz. Rehoboam c. 10 11 12 Abia c. 13 Asa c. 14 15 16 Jehoshaphat c. 17 18 19 20 Jehoram c. 21 Ahaziah c. 22 Joash c. 23 24 Amaziah c. 25 Uzziah c. 26 Jotham c. 27 Ahaz c. 28 Hezekiah c. 29 30 31 32 Manasâ—eh c. 33 Amon c. 33 Josiâ—h c. 34 35 Joahaz c. 36. Jehoakim c. 36. Jechoniah c. 36. Zedekiah c. 36. II. After the people of Israels CAPTIVITY in which regard we have their REDUCTION or bringing back from the Captivity of Babylon Hystorically declared And that two wayes 1. According to the truth and manner of it 2. According to the fruit and event of it Ezra 1 THe truth and manner of Gods peoples RETURNE FROM BABYLON is contained in the book of EZRA So called from Ezra the Penman of it whose Acts also
full of the wrath of God the 7. last plagues poured out upon the eartâ— by 7. Angels Here are the I. Preparatories to the pouring out of the Vials c. 15 throughout II. Pouring out of the Vials of the wrath of God upon the earth c. 16.1 c. viz. I. Vial poured out c. 16. ver 2. II. Vial poured out v. 3. III. Vial poured out v. 4. to 8. IV. Vial poured out v. 8 9. V. Vial poured out v. 10 11. VI. Vial poured out v. 12. to 17. VII Vial poured out c. 16. This pouring out of the VII Vial is laid down 1. More Summarily 2. More Plenarily I. More Summarily compendiously c. 16. ver 17. to the end of the chap. VI Uision II. More plenarily and copiously c. 17 18 19 20 to ver 11. Wherin divers mysteries are most lively explicated which formerly were heretofore more obscurely mentioned Notably pointing out the Rise Seate Reigne Vassals Successe and at last the fatall Ruine of Anti-christ and all the Churches enemies So that this part affords no small light to the Prophetick part of the Revelation Here consider 1. The judgement of the great whore 2. The event thereupon I. The judgement of the great whore c. 17 18 19. Where are 1. A notable description of the great whore that is to be judged By Visionall Representation c. 17.1 to 7. By real explanation therof v. 7. to 16. 2. The instruments that shall destroy the Whore viz. The ten hornes which are ten Kings c. c. 17. ver 16 17 18. 3. The Emphatical promulgation of the woful ruine of Babylon the Seate of the great whore This is done by three Angels 1. The first Angel declares the inevitable certainty of Babylons ruine c. 18..1 2 3. 2. The second warning all God's people to come out of her sets forth the grievousnesse of her destruction with the sad lamentations of all her friends and vassals ver 4. to 21. 3. The third Angel under the type of a great Milstone cast into the Sea as it were seales up the irrecoverablenesse of her ruine ver 21 22 23 24. 4. The gratulatory exaltations of the heavenly company 1 for the judgement of the whore 2 for the preparation of the Lamb's wife for marriage with him c. 19. ver 1. to 11. 5. The finall and totall conquest of the Lamb and his Armies over the beast and false Prophet and the Kings of the earth and their Armies c. 19. v. 11. to the end of the chap. Hitherto of the judgement of the great Whore VII Or last Uision II. The event following after the judgement of the great Whore which is chiefly three-fold 1. The safety of the Saints surviving the ruine of Babylon from the seducements of the Dragon the Devil and Satan being chained up 1000 yeares c. 20.1.2 3. 2. The reviving of the Martyrs and raigning with Christ 1000. yeares the rest of the dead not living again till the 1000. yeares were finished c 20. v. 4 5 6. 3. The Saints miraculous deliverance from and victory over Gog and Magog Satan after the 1000. yeares expired being loosed out of prison c. 20. v. 7. to 11. Hitherto as is conceived hath been Revealed the future state of the Church as Militant on earth The condition of the Church as triumphant in heaven is described both in respect of the 1. Inchoation and 2. Duration of it 1. The Inchoation or beginning of the Churches triumph shall be at the last and generall judgement which is pathetically described c. 20. v. 11. to the end of the chapt 2. The Duration or Continuance of it viz. Eternal happinesse in Heaven which is most gloriously set forth c. 21. throughout c. 22. ver 1. to 6. The Conclusion of this whole Prophecy which is either 1. Principal containing a confirmation of the whole Prophecy of this Revelation by the Testimony 1. Of the Angel by whom the Lord shewed these things to John c. 22. v. 6. 2. Of Christ himselfe who gave this Revelation ver 7. 3. Of Iohn that received this Revelation ver 8 9. 4. Of Christ againe ver 10 to 18. 5. Of Iohn denouncing heavie judgements upon all that shall adde to or take from this Prophecy ver 18 19. 6. Of Christ testifying these things Promising his speedy coming amplified by Iohn's earnest request in his own and the Churches behalfe ver 20. 2. Lesse Principall containing the Apostolicall Salutation to all the 7. Churches and faithfull Saints to whom this Revelation was written ver 21. He that testifieth these things saith I come quickly Amen Even so Come LORD JESUS Rev. 22.20 D. Bernard Medit. Devot c. 4. Praemium est videre deum vivere cum Deo vivere de Deo esse cum Deo esse in Deo quierit omnia in omnibus habere Deum qui est Summum Bonum Et ubi est summum bonum ibi est summa felicitas summa jucunditas vera libeâ—tas perfecta charitas aeterna securitas secura aeternitas ibi est vera laetitia plena scientia omnis plenitudo omnis Beatitudo Sic cum Deo homo Beatus erit in cujus conscientia peccatum inventum non fuerit Videbit Deum ad voluntatem habebit ad voluptatem fruetur ad jucunditatem In aeternitate vigebit in veritate fulgebit in bonitate gaudebit 1 Tim. 1.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Holy Scriptures are contained in the Books of the Old New Testament I. The Books of the Old Testament are I Moses He wrote the Law of God in five Books called the Pentateuch i. e. The-five fold-volumne These Books according to the Greek are called Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomie II. The Prophets their Books are either I. Historicall containing the History of 1. Israel's entrance into the promised Land viz. Ioshua 2 Israels Condition and Government after their entrance into Canaan 1 â—efore their carrying away into Babylon either under 1. Iudges And here we have â—he 1. Generall Hist. Iudges 2. Particular Hist. Ruth 2 Kings and this as thâ— Statâ— of the Kingdome was I. Vnited under Kings by 1. Election I. Samuel 2. Succession II. Samuel II. Divided and that according to the 1. Beginnings of this Division in I. Kings 2. Progresse of this Division in II. Kings III. Vnited and Divided as in I. Chronicles II. Chronicles 2. After their Captivity Here their returne from Captivity is declared According to the 1. Truth and manner of it in Ezra 2. Fruit and event of it in Nehemiah 3. Vnder their Captivity in Babylon and elsewhere in Esther II. Doctrinall or poeticall containing Doctrines 1. Of more speciall reference to A particular person viz. Iob. 2. Of more Generall reference to all sorts of persons in 1. Dauidâ— Book principally penned by him viz. Psalmes 2. Solomons Books which are either 1. Proverbiall Proverbes 2. Penitentiall Ecclesiastes 3. Nuptiall viz. Song of Songs III. Prophetical written either by the 1. Greater Prophets who wrote either 1. Before
hundred ninety and nine years But Paul in his Sermon at Antioch saith And when he had destroyed seven Nations in the Land of Canaan he divided their Land to them by Lot And after that he gave unto them Iudges about the space of foure hundred and fifty years untill Samuel the Prophet Here seems to be a great opposition but if things be well examined there is none at all Yet it may not be dissembled that this is so hard a knot that it much puzzles writers satisfactorily to unty it 1 Partly because this Computation of 450. years is so punctually confuted by this text viz. to begin after Canaan was divided by Lot and to end at Samuel exclusively 〈◊〉 Partly Because that noted Chronology mentioned in 1 King 6.1 assures us expresly That the time from Israels coming out of Egypt till the beginning of the building of the Temple in the fourth yeere of Solomon was precisely but 480. yeeres But if we allow for the time of the Iudges 450. yeers in this account we shal find the whole time from going out of Aegypt till the Temples founding will arise to 591 yeeres in all viz. From Their departure out of Aegypt till their entrance into Canaan 40. yeere Thence to Ioshuah's death about 17. y. Thence to Elies death for Samuels time is included in Sauls Reigne Act. 13.21 according to this supposition 450. y. Thence to the Death of David 80. y. Thence to the founding of the Temple in Solomons fourth yeere 4. y. In all 591. yeeres So that in these regards it is no easie matter clearly and undoubtedly to reconcile these times Many opinions are offered in Writers to this end yet most of them if not all labour under some inconvenience or other To omit the variety of opinions Let it suffice to mention only two which learned men seem most to incline unto Some thinke that here Paul intended not to reckon up the time while the Iudges ruled because so it were impossible to reconcile these foure hundred and fifty years with those foure hundred and eighty years in 1 King 6.1 as hath been intimated but to point out at what time God gave Israel Judges viz. after these things w ch were declared v 17 18 19. viz. from the birth of Isaac which seems to be noted in that phrase God chose our fathers v. 17. among all people God choosing Abraham among all Abrahams children choosing Isaac and making a Covenant with him till the beginning of Iudges which is computed to be foure hundred fourty seven years that 's about foure hundred and fifty years wants but three years and its usuall in Scripture to put the round number for the punctuall number This Computation they make thus From Isaac's birth to Iacobs birth yeers 60. From Iacobs birth to the going down into Egypt 130. Thence to the Comming forth of Egypt 210. Thence to the entring into the land of Canaan 40. Thence to the dividing of the Land by Lot 7. Which make up in all 447. But this opinion is attended with these two inconveniences 1. The present text in the Acts seems plainly to confine us for these foure hundred and fifty years between the dividing of the land of Canaan by Lot and the beginning of Samuels Rule which limits this Computation transgresseth 2. The number computed doth not exactly amount to foure hundred and fifty wants three Others therefore to avoid these inconveniences confine and bound their computation according to this text to the space of time betwixt the dividing Canaan by Lot and Samuels Rule And they thinke Paul reckoned up all the years mentioned in the Judges and so they compute both the years of the Judges and the years of Israels oppressours distinctly and severally though the years of the Oppressours are indeed comprized under the years of the Iudges and both together do punctually make up the foure hundred and fifty years here mentioned in the Acts. As followeth The Iudges mentioned in the Book of Iudges governed in all 299. years To these adde the fourty years of Eli who so long judged Israel 1 Sam. 4.18 40. So the whole time of the Iudges rule till Samuel was 339. Israels Oppressours were 1. Cushan who oppressed them Iudges 38. 8 years 2. Moab Iudg. 3.14 18. 3. Iabin Iudg. 4.3 â—0 4. Midian Iudg. 6. â— 7. 5. Ammon Iudg. 10.8 18. 6. Philistims Iudg. 13.1 40. So the whole time of their Oppressors was 111. Now adde these together viz. the years of their Iudges and the years of their Oppressours three hundred thirty and nine and one hundred and eleven and the totall resulting is foure hundred and fifty years exactly only thâ—s inconvenience remaines the same years are reckoned twice over yet it is not in the same but several respects Now if out of the number of years from departure out of Egypt till the Founding of the Temple as first computed viz. 591 You subduct the years of the Oppressours of Israel under their Iudges which seems to be twice reckoned up viz. one hundred and eleven years The remaine is just foure hundred and eighty years according to that of 1 Kings 6.1 And so the Scripture on all sides are reconciled accurately And therefore this opinion seems most to be embraced VIII Rule Learne that excellent Art of explaining and understanding the Scriptures by the Scriptures The Scriptures in some places speak more darkly and dubiously in other places they expresse the same things more clearly and certainly the doubtfull are to be explained by the certaine as darke places by those that are clear As Augustine noteth As Peter being to prove to the Iewes Christs resurrection by Scripture viz. Thou wilt not leave my soule in hell nor suffer thine holy one to see corruption he alledgeth for clearing this another Scripture to evince that this promise was made to David concerning Christ and could not properly be intended of David himselfe Men and brethren let me speak freely to you of the Patriarch David that he is both dead and buried and his sepulchre is with us unto this day Therefore he being a Prophet and knowing that God had sworne with an oath c. Certainly Scripture is the best expounder of it self Scripture-exposition of it self as Augustine and before him Irenaeus observed is most regular and safe Let us saith Chrysostome attend to the Scope of Scripture which interprets it selfe and suffers not his hearer to erre The gold was not sanctified saith Origen without the Temple no more any sense but what is drawn out of the Scripture And most excellently Hilary He is the best Reader who interprets sayings by sayings who brings not an interpretation to Scripture nor imposeth a sense upon Scripture but findeth a sense in Scripture and drawes it from Scripture c. Now that we may more successefully and clearly understand Scripture by Scripture these ensueing particulars are to be observed 1. That Iesus Christ our
only or 3 both words and matter be cited This would give wonderfull light to many hundreds of passages in the Bible And for this end I have with much care and diligence compiled a Parallel of the Places of the Old Testament any way alledged in the New and had once resolved to have inserted it in this place But to avoid prolixity I must now forbeare it least the Porch prove too big for the building IX Rule The last Direction I shall commend to the Reader for the improvement of heavenly dexterity in and understanding of the holy Scriptures is Endeavour sincerely to practise Scripture and you shall solidly understand Scripture Bernard said truely He rightly reads the Scriptures that turneâ—s Words into workes Knowing into Doing The mightiest man in practise will in the end prove the mightiest man in Scripture Theory is the guide of Practice Practise the Life of Theory Where Scripture-contemplation and experience meet both together in the same person true Scripture understanding must needs be heightned and doubled To this effect is Christs promise My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God To like purpose subscribes the experience of David Thou through thy Commandements hast made me wiser then mine enemies for they are ever with me I have more understanding then all my Teachers for thy testimonies are my meditation I understand more then the Antients because I keep thy Precepts These things Christian Reader I thought fit to commend to thee by way of Preface But shall detaine thee no longer from the Perusall of the Book it selfe The Lord that teacheth his people to profit advance thy spiritual profiting abundantly by both So prayeth He who earnestly desires to be serviceable to Iesus Christ and usefull to his Church and people Fran. Roberts Augustine's London Aug. 26 1647 Aug. 21 1648 CLAVIS BIBLIORVM THE KEY OF THE BIBLE Unlocking The richest Treasury of the Holy Scriptures THE HOLY SCRIPTURES Rom. 1.2 were written by Moses the Prophets the Apostles and other holy men of God Luk. 16.29.31 Eph. 2.20 and 3.5 and 2 Pet. 1.21 The Covenant of God with man in Christ the Mediatour that substantiall or begotten WORD Iohn 1.1 is the Principall Subject Revealed and explained in the whole Scripturall or written WORD Gods COVENANT with man in Christ is represented to us in Holy Scripture principally two wayes viz. 1. As Promised fore-prophecied and typified In Christ to be manifested afterwards in the flesh Hence called the Covenants of Promise Eph. 2.10 Covenants not Covenant because of the severall Publications of the Covenant with more and more Augmentations in severall Points or Periods of time Thus the Covenant is made known in all the Bookes of Scripture written before Christs comming which are therefore called the OLD-COVENANT Heb. 8.13 or the OLD-TESTAMENT 2 Cor. 3.14 2. As performed fulfilled and actually accomplished in Christ already come and manifested in our flesh in fulnesse of time Gal. 4.4 5. Heb. 9. Heb. 10. Thus the Covenant is most clearly and fully unveyled to us in all the Books of Scripture written since Christs coming which are therefore stiled the NEW COVENANT or the NEW TESTAMENT Heb. 8.8 Matth. 26.28 Heb. 9.15 Thus the whole BIBLE is distributed into the 1 Old and 2 New Testament THE OLD TESTAMENT THE OLD TESTAMENT revealing the Covenants of promise in respect of the Penmen whom the Holy Ghost imployed to write the Books thereof is disparted by the Holy Ghost himselfe into two generall heads viz. 1 Moses and 2 the Prophets Luk. 16.29.31 and 24.27 Iohn 1.45 or The Law of Moses and the Prophets Act. 28.23 J. MOSES MOSES the man of God Psal. 90.1 The first Penman of Scripture was an Ebrew borne in Egypt after the worlds creation about 2432 years before Christ about 1496. years The seventh from Abraham the father of the faithfull 1 Chron. 6.1 2 3. and 2.1 and 1.34 As Enoch was the seventh from Adam the father of the world Iude 14. When Moses was borne he was very fair Act. 7.20 21 22. He was marvellously saved from death being drawne out of the water whence his name MOSES i. e. Drawn-forth was given to him Exod. 2 10 He was nourished by King Pharaoâ—s daughter for her own sonne Ex. 2.9 10. Act. 7.21 Learned in all the wisedome of the Egyptians and mighty in words and in deeds Act. 7.22 He lived in Pharaohs Court 40. years and then left the Court choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God c Act. 7.23 Heb. 11.24 25 26. He was a stranger a shepheard in the land of Madian 40. years Act. 7.29.30 Exod. 3. thence God called him to feed Iacob his people and Israel his inheritance He fed Israel most faithfully 40. years Numb 12.7 Heb. 3.2.5 being in the Church in the wildernesse Act. 7.38 with the Angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our fathers where he received the lively Oracles to give unto us and commanded us a law which is the inheritance of the Church of Iacob Deut. 33.4 Of all the Prophets that arose in Israel there was none like Moses whom God knew face to face Deut. 34.10 He dyed 120. years old his eye not being dimme nor his naturall strength abated and was buried of God no man knowing of his sepulcher to this day Deut. 34.5.6.7 MOSES wrote the Law of God in the five first Bookes called in Greek the Pentateuch i. e. The five-fold-volume At first it seemes to be written in one volume or Roll there being such a continued connection of Book with Book Exod. 1.1 Levit. 1.1 Num. 1.1 Deut. 1.1 But was afterwards according to the several subject matters therin contained divided into five severall Books Containing 1 An History of things past 2 A Covenant between God and his Church then present 3 And a Prophecy of further grace to come now exhibited by Iesus Christ Deut. 18.15 c. Iohn 5.46 and 1.17 In Propounding of which things as Ainsworth observes Moses hath a veile upon his glorious face for in the Histories are implied Allegories Gal. 2.24 And in the Lawes are types and shadows of good things to come the body whereof is of Christ Heb. 9.9 and 10.1 Col. 2.17 In Genesis which History endeth with Israels going downe into Egypt we have the image of a naturall man fallen from God into the bondage of sin In Exodus is the type of our Regeneration and State renewed by Iesus Christ. In Leviticus the shadow of our mortification whilst we are made sacrifices unto God In Numbers our spirituall warfare whereunto we are mustered and armed to â—ight the good fight of faith In Deuteronomie the Doctrine of our sanctification and Preparation to enter into our heavenly Canaan after Moses death by the conduct of Iesus the son of God So H. Ainsworth in his Preface before his Annotat. on Gen.
c. Genesis GENESIS i. e. Generation so called by the Greek because it sets forth the Generations of the heavens of the earth in their first creation Gen. 2.4 The Hebrews name their Books of the Old Testament either 1 From the Prophets the Penmen of them Or 2 From the Principall subject or Argument handled in them Or 3 From the first Hebrew word wherewith they begin as the 5. Books of Moses the Lament of Ieremiah Hence Genesis is called in Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bereschith i. e. In the beginning Penman It is not probable this Book was written by Moses whilst a Private man and a shepheard in Madian in the desert but rather after he was a Publick person and furnished with a Prophetick spirit otherwise the credit and authority of this History would be too much enfeebled Nor is it absurd which some Hebrew writers think who referre this writing to that of Exod 24.12 Come up to me into the mount and be thou there and I will give thee the Tables of stone and the Law and the Precepts which I have written to teach them Understanding by the Tables the Decalogue by the Precepts all the Ceremoniall and Iudiciall Ordinances and by the Law all other writings of Moses whether Historicall or Dogmaticall D. Paraeus in Prolegom in Genes p. 14.15 in fol. This Book as it is absolutely the ancientest writing extant in the world so it is most compendious being an History of 2369 years as Ainsw thinks or rather of 2368 as Iunius and Paraeus comput Iun. Annot. in Gen. 1. Parae Prologom in Genes This may appeare in three eminent Intervals or Periods of time recorded in Genesis viz. I. From the Creation to the beginning of the flood in Noahs 600 th yeare through 10 Generations 1656 yeares Gen. 5. and 6.11 viz. From Adams Creation to Seth's Nativity 130 years From Seth to Enos 105. From Enos to Cainan 90. From Cainan to Mahaleeâ— 70. From Mahaleel to Iared 65. From Iared to Enoch 162. From Enoch to Mathusalah 65. From Mathusalah to Lamech 187. From Lamech to Noah's birth 182. From Noah's birth to the beginning of the flood 600 in all 1656. II. The second Period of time is From the beginning of the flood through other 10 Generations to Abrahams birth 352 years Gen. 11. viz. From the Flood to Arphaxad 2 years From Arphaxad to Selah 35 years From Selah to Heber 30 years From Eber to Peleg 34 years From Peleg to Reu 30 years From Reu to Serug 32 years From Serug to Nachor 30 years From Nachor to Terah 29 years From Terah to Abraham 130 years In all 352 years So that Abraham was borne in the 2008 yeare from the Creation III. The third Period is From Abrahams birth to Josephs death through foure Generations 360 years viz. From Birth of Abraham to the birth of Isaac 100 years Gen. 17.17 and 21.5 From Isaacs birth to Iacobs birth 60 years Gen. 25.26 From Iacobs birth to his going down into Egypt 130 years Gen. 47.9 From Iacobs descent into Egypt to his death 17 years Gen. 47.28 From death of Iacob to the death of Ioseph 53 years which may be thus gathered Ioseph died when he was 110 years old Gen. 50.26 He stood before Pharaoh when he was 30 years old Gen. 41.46 After the seven years of plenty in the third yeare of famine Iacob came into Egypt in the one hundred and thirtieth yeare of Iacob and fourtieth yeare of Ioseph Gen. 45.6 Ioseph lived with his father in Egypt seventeen years Therefore when his father dyed Ioseph was 57 years old Consequently he lived after his fathers death 53 years Gen. 50.26 So that the totall of this third Intervall amounts to 360 years And therefore 1656 and 352 and 360 being added together This History of Genesis is evidently an History of 2368 yeares continuance The scope of Genesis is to set forth The Generation of the world The corruption thereof by sin The Restauration thereof by Christ the seed of the woman together with the Government of the old world before the flood and the follâ—â—ing world after the flood especially of the Church of God in particular families in both Principall parts of this Book In Genesis are described I. The Originall 1 Of the world chap. 1. 2. Of Mankinde and so of the Church ch 2.3 Of sinne and punishment thereof ch 3. II. The Government 1. Of the Old World before the Flood where are 1. The Propogation of sin and punishment from Adam to posterity c. 4. 2. Preservation of the Church in the sinfull world c. 5. 3. Iudgements of God upon the world Foretold c. 6. Inflicted c. 7. 2. Of the World following after the Flood according to the times of divers renowned Patriarchs Noah Abraham Isaac Iacob 1. Noah whose 1 Deliverance from the Flood c. 8. 2. Benediction c. 9. 3. Family 1 as united c. 10. 2 as dispersed c. 11. are recorded 2. Abraham touching whom are laid down 1 His Calling from his Country and kindred c. 12.1 to ver 10. 2. His going down Into Egypt ver 10. to the end Into Canaan c. 13. 3. His rescuing of Lot c. 14. 4. His dealing with God who 1 Promises him issue c. 15. 2 Performes to him by Hagar c. 16. 3 Makes a Covenant with Abraham whereof note The forme c. 17. The fruit or effect of it 1 On Gods part viz. Communication of his Counsels to him ch 18. and of his Benefits ch 19 20 21. 2 On Abrahams part divers sweet fruits viz. 1 The obedience of his faith c. 22. 2 His Humanity c. 23. 3 His Piety in the matching of his sonne c. 24. 3. Isaac whose 1 Posterity c. 25. 2. Peregrination into the land of Egypt c. 26. 3. Benediction of his two sons c. 27. are mentioned 4. Iacob whose three Peregrinations are declared viz. I. Into Mesopotamia wherin note 1. His journey c. 28. 2. His Arrivall and marriage c. 29. 3. His increase in goods and children c. 30. II. Into Canaan where observe His passage hither c. 31. 4 His abode there where the things that befell him are recited viz. 1. His meeting of his brother Esau with 1 preparation for it c. 32. 2 manner of it c. 33. His daughter Dinah's defilement c. 34. 2. Rachels death c. 35. 3. Isaacs death and buriall by Iacob and Esau where is mentioned Esaus race c 35.36 Selling of Ioseph c. 37. Incest of Iudah c. 38. III. Into Egypt of which Peregrination of Iacob are mentioned The Antecedents The Manner and Consequents Antecedents viz. 1. Iosephs being made knowne to the Egyptians and to his owne kindred To the Egyptians in Prison c. 39.48 out of Prison to the King and his people c. 41. To his owne Not at their first coming into Egypt to buy corne c. 42. But at their second coming c. 43.44.45 where all the circumstances thereof are noted 2. Iosephs sending for his father c. 45. Manner 1. Of Iacobs going thither c. 46.
2. Of Iacobs being there Where note his conference with Pharaoh c. 47. His blessing of Ioseph c. 48. His Propheticall benedictions to all his sonnes c. 49. Consequents upon Iacobs death c. 50. Exodus EXODUS i. e. Going-out or Departure so called by the Greek because it declares Israels Departure out of Egypt after they had been long-oppressed there under Tyrannicall servitude In Heb. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 veelleh schemoth i. e. And these are the names Exod. 1.1 Scope To set forth Gods governing and ordering of his Church now reduced and united into one body out of all the severall families of Israel This is the Church in the wildernesse Act. 7.38 Exodus is an History from the death of Ioseph till the erecting of the Tabernacle for about 142. years viz. From death of Ioseph to the birth of Moses 60 years As Iunius computes Annot. in Ex. From Moses birth to the Departure out of Egypt 80 years Exod. 7.7 From the departure out of Egypt to the erecting of the Tabernacle two years Exod. 40.17 in the second yeare viz. the second yeare after their coming out of Egypt Iun. Annotat. Principal Parts of this Book Exodus contains an Historicall Narration of I. Gods Actions for Israels deliverance out of Egypt Things done of God were Before In or After Israels deliverance I. Before their deliverance are 1. His permission of the Egyptian Tyranny over them which was the occasion of the deliverance c. 1. 2. His Preparation both of Instruments and Actions for deliverance 1. Of Instruments viz. Moses who is Borne c. 2. Called c. 3. Aaron c. 4. 2. Of Actions viz. Words c. 5.6 Signes both Confirming their words c. 7. and Punishing the Egyptians for not letting Israel go with ten plagues viz. 1 Turning water into blood c. 7. 2 Frogs 3 Lice 4 And a mixed swarme of Flyes c. 8. 5 Pestilence 6 Boyles 7 Haile c. 9. 8 Locusts and 9 Darknesse c. 10. 10 Death of the first-borne Foretold c. 11. Fulfilled c. 12. II. In their deliverance where note 1. Theâ—r departure Egresse or going out Acted c. 12. Attested for the benefit of Posterity with signes and observations c. 13. 2. Their Progresse or going on Whereof 1 Their passing through the Red sea c. 14. 2 Their thanksgiving for this wonder of mercy in a gratulatory Song c. 15. III. After their deliverance when God did 1. Supply them with food and necessaries c. 16. 2. Defend them from evils c. 17. 3. Appoint Judicatories for all matters of difference that might fall out among them c. 18. II. Gods institutions in which regard consider Gods Prescriptions Israels performances I. Gods prescriptions where note 1. Preparation of the people c. 19. 2. The promulgation of his lawes 1 Moral with their Appendixes c. 20. 2 Iudicial both in humane and sacred things c. 21 22 23. 3 Ceremoniall Touching the Ceremoniall lawes here are laid down 1. The Preparation to them c. 24. 2. The parts of them viz. 1 The Tabernacle with the Appurtenances and Utensils thereof c. 25.26 27. 2 The Priests and their Ornaments or Vestments for Ministration c. 28. 3 Sacrifices c. 29. and divers sacred things c. 30. 3. The close of ceremoniall directions c. 31. II. Israels performances of Gods Prescriptions Here consider Israels obedience 1. About Morals 1 Violated by idolatry c. 32. 2. Restored and renewed againe By reconciliation with God c. 33. and Renewing of the Tables c. 34. 2. About Ceremonials viz. 1. The Parts of the Tabernacle The matter chap. 35. The fashioning of the Tabernacle c. 36. of the Ark c. 37. The making of sacred things belonging To the people c. 38. To the Priests c. 39. 2. The totall disposing ordering and erecting of the Tabernacle c. 40. Leviticus LEVITICUS So denominated by the Greek from the chiefe Subject or matter of the Book which principally describes the lawes sacrifices and services of the LEVITICAL Priesthood It is stiled among the Hebrewes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vajikra i. e. And he called This being the first Hebrew word in the Hebrew text beginning this book Scope of this Book To make known Leviticall Lawes Sacrifices and Ordinances and by those shadows to lead Israel by the hand to Jesus Christ the true Priest and sacrifice of the Church See Levit. 11.44 and 20.26 This Book relates the memorable words Acts and Leviticall Ceremoniall Laws made known from God to Israel for one Moneths space viz. from about the beginning of the second yeare after Israels departure out of Egypt the Tabernacle being already reared till the beginning of the second moneth of the same yeare As Jun. in Annot. compare Exod. 40.17 with Numb 1.1 which was in the yeare from the worlds Creation 2514. As Ainsw computes Principal Parts Leviticus describes the sacred Ceremoniall law 1. Of things 2. Of Persons 3. Of Actions I. The Ceremoniall law of things c. 1. to c. 8. either according to the substance of them as of 1. Burnt-offerings c. 1. 2. Meat-offerings c. 2. 3. Peace-offerings c. 3. 4. Sin-offerings in case of ignorance c. 4. or of infirmity c. 5. Or according to the Rite and Ceremony of them c. 6.7 II. The Ceremoniall law of persons c. 8. to 16. viz. 1. Of the Priests In their consecration to their office c. 8. In their discharge of their office either according to Gods assistance c. 9. Or mens infirmity c. 10. 2. Of all the people touching whom are lawes about their sanctification both from uncleannesse without them in matter of their food c. 11. or In them By reason of 1 Child-bearing c. 12. 2 Leprosie whereof its Rise and State c. 13. It s cure c. 14. 3 Issue of seed or bloud c. 15. III. The Ceremonial Law touching Actions Necessary or Voluntary 1. Necessary whereof are laid down The Particulars and the Confirmation of them 1 the Particulars of these Necessary Actions are 1. In purification Common to the whole Church c. 16. Proper to every godly person c. 17. 2. In Sanctimony or Holinesse Both of the people 1 To be observed not only in their own bodies c. 18. but also among one another mutually c. 19. 2 To be maintained in their judgements c. 20. As also in the holinesse of the Priests in their Persons c. 21. Things c. 22. 3. In exercise Ecclesiasticall In legall Times c. 23. In legall Rites c. 24. Politicall c. 25. 2 The Confirmation or obsignation of these particular lawes by Promises and Threats c. 26. 2. Voluntary viz. touching vows c. 27. Numbers NUMBERS Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called because a great part of the Book is spent in Numbring the Tribes and Families of Israel and of their journeys from Egypt to Canaan In Hebr. its called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bammidbar i. e. In the Desert Because this is the first word of this Book in the Hebrew text Numbers containes an History from the beginning of the second moneth of the second yeare after Israels coming â—ut of Egypt to the
beginning of the eleventh moneth of the fourtieth yeare viz. 38. years and upwards as Iun. and Ainsw observe And this may remarkably be evinced by comparing Numb 1.1 and 36.13 diligently with Deut. 1.3 which as above demonstrate both the beginning and ending of this History of Numbers Scope Lively to set forth the rich blessing of God upon Israel in their wonderfull increase his vigilant providence over them in all their wildernes journeyes and difficulties and yet his severity against their corruption for which many of them perished in the wildernesse after they had been delivered out of Egypt so that they could not enter into his rest because of their unbeliefe Heb. 3.19 Iude ver 5. Principall Parts This Book of Numbers containes an Historicall narration of Israels 1 Preparation for their Journey 2 Iourney it selfe and 3 of their Station I. Israels Preparation for their Journey wherein three things I. The Numbring of them which was 1. Civil both of all the heads of the people according to the families c. 1. and of the order of the Tribes in their Tents c. 2. 2. Sacred where is reckoned up both the number of Levites and other officers about the Tabernacle c. 3. as also their order and ministry c. 4. II. Lawes 1. Common about Sanctimony whether necessary c. 5. or voluntary c. 6. 2. Particular for the Princes offering of every Tribe at the dedication of the Tabernacle and Altar c. 7. For the Levites service c. 8. III. The manner 1. Of their sanctification and order c. 9. And of their Journeying c. 10. II. Israels journeys which are distinguished by the history of their eight notable Murmurings in their way viz. 1. Irksomenesse of their Journey 2. Loathing of Mannah c. 11. 3. Aarons and Miriams emulation against Moses c. 12. 4. Their unbelief at Kadesh where are recorded Their murmuring c. 13. The judgement of God for it c. 14. Their reconcilement to God afterwards c. 15. 5. The envy of the Levites and others against the Priests c. 16. 6. The indignation of the people for the precedent judgement where are set down both their Murmurâ—ng c. 16.41 42 43. and their Reconcilement c. 16. vers 44. to the end and c. 17 18 19. 7. Murmuring for want of water c. 20. 8. Murmuring because of the way and the light bread and so were plagued with fiery serpents c. 21. III. Israels Station State or condition when they were now nigh to the possession of their inheritance c. 21. to the end of the Book Here is set down a double State or Condition 1. Of the people themselves 2. Of their inheritance 1. Of the people themselves either as 1. overcoming their enemies and possessing the land c. 21. 2. Tempted by Magicall Arts and inchantments c. 22 23 24. 3. â—nsnared with and plagued for idolatry and fornication c. 25. 4. Reconciled to God and numbred for the entring upon the inheritance c. 26. 5. Furnished with a new Governour Ioshuah that was to succeed Moses c. 27. 6. Instructed in sacred things Necessary c. 28 29. Voluntary c. 30. 2. Of the inheritance which is considered either 1. In part As possessed c. 31. As assigned to Gad Reuben and halfe the Tribe of Manasseh c. 32. Here by way of digression is a summary recapitulation of the severall stations of Israel in their march through the wildernesse c. 33. 2. In whole And that either As it is circumscribed with Bounds or Borders whereof the manner of dividing the land c. 34. Or as it is circumscribed with lawes Both of refuge for the man-slayer that slew any unawares c. 35. And of successions in their inheritances c. 36 Deuteron DEUTERONOMIE i. e. The second law or Law repeated Thus denominated by the Greek because this book containeth a Repetition of Gods law given by Moses to Israel AS in Hebrew it is sometimes from the same ground called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mischneh i. e. Repetition of the law From the first words in the Book it s cal'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elleh Haddebarim i e. These are the words or only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Debarim i. e. The words Penman of this Book as of all the foure former Books was Moses who also wrote the History of his own death aforehand in the last chapter by a Prophetick spirit or Ioshua wrote it for him Alsted Praecog Theol. l. 2. c. 118. This Book containes the History of but a few dayes viz. from the beginning of the eleventh moneth to about the seventh day of the twelfth moneth of the fourtieth yeare after Israels departure out of Egypt for Moses began to speak these words in the first day of the eleventh moneth of the said fourtieth yeare Deut. 1.3 which was a little before his death he died when he was one hundred and twenty years old Deut. 34.7 after which Israel mourned for Moses in the land of Moab thirty dayes Deut. 34.8 this determines the time of the History As Iun. well observes Thus Alsted in Praecog Theol. l. 2. c. 118. computes the time of this History viz. 1. The first Part of this Book containes the History of the first day of the eleventh moneth of the fourtieth yeare after their coming out of Egypt c. 1 2 3 4. 2. The second part contains the History of the second day c. 5. to 11 3. The third part containes the History as is probable of foure dayes at most c. 11. to 26. 4. The fourth part containes the History of one day c. 27.28 5. The fifth containes the History also of one day c. 29 30. 6. The sixth containes the History of one day c. 31. c. 7. The 7 th part contains the History of their mourning for Moses thirty daies c. 34. Proofe hereof may be drawn from the History of Ioshua by computing backwards from the day of the Passeover For in the land of Canaan the first Passeover was celebrated in the one and fourtieth year after Israels coming ouâ— of Egypt on the fourteenth day of the moneth Nisan Josh. 5 10. Before which they were circumcised which probably took up foure dayes Josh. 5. One day they were passing thorough Jordan two dayes in preparation for it Adde to these the time of searching out the land and lastly the thirty dayes mourning And thus going backwards we shall find that Deuteronomie containes an History of but a very few dayes Scope That the law formerly given of God may by this New Repetition of it be more declared confirmed and applied to the present condition of Israel and they thereby fitted and better prepared for the promised Canaan upon which they were entring Principall Parts are The Preface Narration and Conclusion of the Book I. Preface or Prologue c. 1. to 5. contayning 1. A Narration 1. Of Gods calling of Israel from Horeb to the promised Land c. 1. 2. Of the execution of this call Both by divine conduct against their enemies c. 2. And by appointment to enter the Land c. 3. 2. An exhortation
are the chief subject-matter of it Some count and call Ezra a Prophet Lactant. lib. 4. Iust. c. 11. but Augustine doubts whether he may be called a Prophet Aug. l. 18 de Civit Dei c. 36. Hierome saith he was Iosedech whose son was Iesus the High-Priest See Ludovic Viv. in Lib. 18 de Civit. dei c. 36. But how can he be denyed to be a Prophet when Christ himselfe stiles all the books of the Old Testament Moses and the Prophets Luk. 16.29.31 This is certaine Ezra was a Priest Ezr. 7 11 12. He was of the house and linage of Aaron see his pedigree Ezr. 7.1.2 3 4 5. A most expert and ready Scribe in the Law of Moses Ezr. 7.6 10 11. He was sent with Commission by Artaxerxes from Babylon to Ierusalem c. ver 11. c. Zerubbabel restored the Temple Ezra the worship of God Nehemiah the City Ierusalem This book and that of Nehemiah following are by the Hebrewes reputed as but one volume and that is called by them the I. of Ezra this the II. of Ezra Hieronym in Epist. ad Paulin. and Lactant. Instit. l. 4. c. 11. The Greek and Latin divide them as our English into two books the former being ascribed to Ezra the latter to Nehemiah The Book of Ezra in Order well followes the Chronicles for the very words which conclude the Chronicles 2 Chron. 36. last do begin this Book of Ezra Ezra 1.1 2 3. not only intimating that Ezra was probably Penman of them both but also that in this Book the History is continued In Ezra is declared the Iewes returne from Babylon And it is an History for about 146. years viz. From the Edict of Cyrus to the nineteenth year of Artaxerxes Mnemon As Iunius computes of Cyrus and Cambyses 9 Magi 1 Darius Histaspis 36 Xerxes 22 Artaxerxes Longimanus 40 Darius Nothus 19 Artaxerxes Mnemon 19 Scope To evidence how punctually faithfull and alsufficiently able God is in performing of his Promises to his Church and people in their season touching their deliverance and Restauration against all impediments improbabilities and seeming impossibilities For he made Cyrus an heathen King his shepheard and nursing father to his Church to bring them out of Babylon wherein they were as helplesse and hopelesse as dead bodies or dry bones in a grave Ezek. 37. 2 3 11 12 13. To build the Temple and Ierusalem Isa. 44. 28. and 45. 1. c. compared with Ezra 1.1 2. c. Principall parts In this Book are laid downe touching the Jewes returne 1. The causes of their return from Babylon viz. 1. Instrumentall Cyrus his Grant c. 1. 2. Materiall Persons returning c. 2. 3. Finall the Restauration of the Temple and worship of God c. 3. 2. The Impediments of their Returne 1. Recited viz. The Samaritanes c. 4. and the Ruler of Canaan c. 5. 2. Removed by the Renewing of Cyrus his Edict c. 6. 3. The successe of their Returne where are described 1 Ezra's Commission c. 7. 2. His execution of his Commission c. 8. 3. The Reformation of mixed marriages which are Described c. 9. Abolished c. 10. Nehemia II. THe Fruit and Event of the Jews RETURNE FROM BABYLON is laid down in the Book of NEHEMIAH So called 1 partly because Nehemiah was Pen-man of it Neh. 1.1 2 Partly because the Acts of Nehemiah are the Principall subject-matter of the Book Nehemiah being the great Repairer Restorer of the holy City Ierusalem It is by some called the II. of Ezra because the History begun by Ezra touching the Iewes returne from Babylon is here continued Nehemiah is supposed to aeb the same who is called the Tirshatha Ezr. 2.63 So Munsterus Neh. 8.9 which signifies a Cup-bearer Gerh. exeg in loc 1. de Scrip. § 132. but in the Chaldee tongue is a Title of Dignity and Honour R. Aben Ezra saith Gerh. Translated Legatus Regis i. e. The Kings legate Ambassadour or Commissary by Iun. Trem. who yet interpret this rather of Shazbazzar whom many think to be Zerubbabel In the margin of our English Bibles it is rendred Governour He was the son of Hachaliah Neh. 1.1 and Cup-bearer to King Artaxerxes in the twentieth yeare of his Reigne Neh. â— 11 and 2.1 The kings Palace was at Shushan Neh. 1.1 that being the Metropolis of Persia which Darius Hystaspis built Plin. N. H. l. 6 c. 27. In this Book are declared the happy fruits of the Jews returne both in reference to the Politique and Ecclesiastick state It contains an History of about 55 years as Gerh. Loc. Com. Supradict Iunius in Annot. shew viz. From the twentieth yeare of Artaerxes Mnemon Neh. 2.1 24 Thence of Darius Ochus 23 Thence of Asrenes 3 Thence of Darius the last 5 Scope To let us know how deep and desperate the distresses of the Church may grow before God will restore her How difficult slow and perplexed a work the work of Reformation is both by reason of adversaries to be opposed and Publick corruptions to be removed How easily and wonderfully God can bring Reformation to perfection against all impediments whatsoever when he is resolved to carry it on What excellent and usefull instruments pious and faithfull Magistrates are for the accomplishing both of Civil and Ecclesiasticall Reformation Nehemiah being a lively Patterne of a true Reformer indeed Principall parts This Book sets forth the Restauration of Hierusalem and this By. I. Reparation of the wals gates and buildings where consider 1. The cause of it 1. Principall God c. 1. 2. Instrumentall Nehemiah c. 2. 2. The work it selfe 1. Begun c. 3. 2. Hindred by impediments Externall c. 4. Internall c. 5. Mixt c. 6. 3. Perfected c. 6. II. Reformation both of the state Politick and Ecclesiastick c. 7. to 13. Hereunto appertain 1. The Custody of the City The Number of the Captives that returned viz. 49942. Neh. 7.66.67 and the Oblation c. 7. 2. A Description of two Festivals c. 8. 3. The peoples publick repentance in a Solemne Fast testified by a Solemne Covenant made and subscribed for Reformation c. 9 10. 4. The inhabitants of Ierusalem viz. Rulers Voluntiers and men chosen by lot c. 11. 5. The number and offices of the Priests with the Dedication of the wals of Ierusalem c. 12. III. Correction of such corruptions and miscarriages as had risen in Iudea in Nehemiah's absence c. 13. Esther III. VNder the IEWES CAPTIVITY in Babylon and other places out of Iudea The condition of the Church is described in the Book of ESTHER stiled by the Hebrewes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 megillath Esther i. e. The volume of Esther so denominated from Esther the Queen a Iewesh whose faithfull service done for the oppressed Church and people of God in extremity of straits is the primary subject of this Book Some writers exclude this Book out of the Canon of Scripture as Melito in Eusebius lib. 4. c. 25. Athanâ—sius in Synopsi and Nazianzen in Carm. de Script But the Hebrews and primitive Christians
with other writers unanimously receive it as part of the Canon Penman is not so unanimously determined upon among Authors Some thinks it was written by the men of the great Synagogue R. Moses is said to be of this opinion Or by Ioachim the Priest sonne of Iesus the High-Priest Philo Iudeus in Chronol Or by Mordecay as is conjectured partly from chap. 9.20 23. As The Latin Fathers The ground of whose conjecture seemes to come short Or by Ezra or Nehemiah who wrote the two former Histories of the Church of like Nature Isidorus Alsted Praecog Theol l. c. c. 120. But Eusebius in his Chronicles supposeth that the Penman was after Ezra This Book containes an History of the Church under the Reigne of Ahashuerus King of Persia from the third yeare of his Reigne Esth. 1.1 2 3. till the end of his Reigne viz. about 20. years for he reigned in all about 21. or 22. years This Ahashuerus is conceived to be Xerxes sonne of Hystaspis Ezr. 4.6 Iun. Annot. The time of this History is thus computed Ahashuerus makes his feast in his third yeare Esth. 1.3 Marrieth Esther in his seventh yeare Esth. 2.16 Haman conspires against the Iewes and is hanged in his twelfth yeare Esth. 3.7 and 7.10 Thence Esther reigns till the end of his Reigne Mordecai being chief Governour 10. y. Helvic chron Sâ—ope most lively to manifest How singularly vigilant God is over his Church in extreamest straits and deepest dangers not only to preserve her from them and advantage her by them but also to returne the plots of her cruell enemies upon their own heads when they are nearest execution Principall parts This Book declares the Jewes deliverance from Hamans plot both by what meanes and in what manner it was delivered I. Meanes of deliverance Esther advanced Of whose advancement here 's 1. The occasion c. 1. 2. The manner of it c. 2. II. The manner of the deliverance where are laid downe 1. Hamans cruell Plot against the Jewes c. 3. 2. The perill ensuing upon this Plot 1. Generally to all the Jewes c. 4. 2. Particularly to Mordecai himselfe c. 5. 3. Gods countermining of Hamans undermining designe 1. By advancement of Mordecai c. 6. 2. By ruining of 1 Haman c. 7. 2 Of the rest of the Jewes enemies whose slaughter was Impetrated c. 8. Perpetrated c. 9. 3. By producing out of all an happy prosperous quiet condition to his owne people II. DOCTRINAL BOOKS The DOGMATICAL or DOCTRINALL Books Thus farre of those Books which are more properly Historicall Now of the Bookes which were written in the same times with the former which declare to us the will of God in a more Doctrinall way and therefore for distinction sake called DOCTRINALL They are also called the Poeticall Books because it is conceived that they or most of them in Hebrew were written in Metre or Poeticall Measures which now are not so easie to be found out These DOGMATICALL Books containe in them Doctrines 1. Of more speciall and particular reference to some particular individuall person 2. Or of more Generall reference and respect to all Job 1. DOctrines of more speciall reference to a particular person are laid down in the Book of IOB so called because that precious man Iob and his various condition is the chiefe subject-matter of the Booke Some think that there never was such a man in the world as this Iob of which this Book speaks but account this booke rather Parabolicall then Historicall R. Moses Ben. Maimon in more Nebuchim part 3. § 22. And Thalmud Ord. 4. Tract 3. But this dreame is sufficiently refelled by that honourable mention that is made of this renowned Iob in other Scriptures both in Old and New Testament Ezek. 14.14 20. Iam. 5.11 Who this Iob was is more doubted 1. Some thinke that Iob came of Nahor Abrahams brother and that he was the third from Nahor thus Nahor Vz rIob and that he lived about that time that Israel was in Egypt Alsted Chron. p. 100 and p. 115. and p. 502. And Hieronym in Q. Hebr. Tom. 4. fol. 96. Seemes to incline hereunto especially seeing Iob is said to dwell in the Land of Vz Iob 1.1 and Vz was one of Nahors sonnes Gent 22. â—1 But that Land seems not to have received its name of Vz coetaneous to Abraham but rather from Vz son of Aram Sem's Nephew presently after the flood Gen. 10.23 As Gerh. well notes in exegesi loc Com. de Scrip. § 136. 2. Others rather are of opinion that Iob is the same which Iobab King of the Idumeans of the race of Esau Gen. 36.34 And that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 might be changed into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the name Iobab into Iob either from the custome of the Hebrew tongue which oft-times changeth one letter for another or from the Aramick Idumean or other dialect of the Country where he sojourned or from the change of his condition in the world while prosperous he might be called Iobab the letter being doubled when in distresse his name contracted into Iob. See the like in case of Abraham Gen. 17.5 Of Naomi Ruth 1.20 This latter opinion is urged by Arguments not to be neglected 1. From the circumstances of place Iobab lived in the Land of Idumea Gen. 36.33 Iob in the Land of Vz a chiefe tract in Idumea Iob 1.1 Lam. 4.21 Hence Kings of Edom are called Kings of the Land of Vz Ier. 25.20 2. From description of their possessions Iobab had Regall Majesty Gen. 36.33 Iob had a Princely state not usuall to private men Iob 1.1 2 3. And also Princely Dignity Habit and Office Iob 29.9 12 14. 3. From Similitude of names As Moses reckons up among Esau's sons one Eliphaz who brought forth one Theman builder of a Town of his own name Gen. 36.10 15. So Iobs History mentions Eliphaz the Temanite Iob 2.11 Many Authors as the LXX interpret at the end of Iob. Euseb. demonstr Evangel l. 1. c. 5. Ambros. in Com. in Rom. 9. August de Civit. dei l. 18. c. 47. Gerh. quo supr § 134. vid. Mercer in Praefat in Lib Iob Com. in Iob 1.1 Penman of this book is not certainly known Some think it was Solomon but that 's scarce probable Iob living so long before Solomon and many Penmen of Holy Scripture intervening betwixt them Some that Iob penned this book himselfe because the expressions and speeches of Iob are laid down in such emphaticall and patheticall terms Some rather thinke that Moses wrote Genesis and Iob about the same time viz. a little before Israels departure out of Aegypt in the yeare of the world 2452. Alsted Chron. p. 100. R. Solomon and other Hebrewes favour this opinion Scope To evidence as in a mirrour the wise just and fatherly Providence of God to his own faithfull and upright servants even in midst of manifold deepest strangest and longest afflictions Hebrewes say Iob's calamity lasted 12 moneths Suidas saith seaven yeeres Principal Parts In this book
Iobs threefold condition is described viz. His Prosperity His Adversity and his recovery out of all his distresses I. Iobs Prosperity is described c. 1.1 to ver 6. II. Iobs Adversity is deciphered to us 1. By the Occasion variety and extremity of it c. 1. ver 6. to chap. 3.1 2. By the distemper of his spirit under the extremity of his dolours c. 3. 3. By the Dialogue had under his Affliction wherein this Q. is for substance fully discussed Whether strange heavy and long afflictions be infallible signes either of Gods hatred or of afflicted persons Hypocrisy Likewise Jobs Faith patience courage perseverance and commendable deportment is interwoven in the Dialogue though now and then he discovered some infirmities Here consider the dispute betwixt Iob and his three friends and the Moderatours of the Dispute 1. The Dispute hath in it 8 severall Acts. 1. Eliphaz his first reproofe c. 4.5 And Iobs Answer c. 6 7. 2. Bildads first reproofe of Iob c. 8. And Iobs answer c. 9 10. 3. Zophar's first rebuke c. 11. With Iobs answer c. 12 13 14. 4. Eliphaz his second reproofe c. 15. And Iobs defence c. 16 17. 5. Bildad's second rebuke c. â—8 Iobs answer c. 19. 6. Zophar's second reproofe c. 20. Iobs answer c. 21. 7. Elephaz his third reproofe c. 22. Iobs answer c. 23 24. 8. Bildad's third reproofe c. 25. Iobs answer by shewing Gods Majesty c. 26 27 28. and by paralleling his present calamity with his former felicity c. 29 30 31. 2. The Moderatours in this dispute are 1. Elihu who first reproves Iobs friends c. 32. Iob himselfe c. 33. 2. Renders the Reasons of his reproofe drawn from the Majesty of God c. 34. 3. Exhorts Iob to Repentance c. 35. 4. Returnes to the description of Gods Majesty c. 36 37. 2. God himselfe who reprehends and convinceth Job of ignorance and infirmity by Arguments drawn from the Creation and Gubernation 1. Of the Meteors c. 38. 2. Of other creatures especially of the more considerable creatures viz. The Lyon c. 39. Elephant c. 40. Whale c. 41. III. Iobs recovery out of his adversity described 1. By his preparative to it viz. Iobs penitentiall confession of his sin c. This was the sweet fruit of the Dialogue with Iob. 2. By the manner of his Restitution c. c. 42. 2. Doctrines of more generall reference unto all sorts of persons are contained partly in Davids partly in Solomons Books whereof some were written originally in prose others in Metre Trelcat in Oecon. Bibl. Psalmes 1. IN Davids Book viz. That which was if not wholly as some thinke August de Civitat Dei l. 17. c. 14. Yet principally Penned by David i. e. THE BOOK OF PSALMES It is called in Hebrew by the latter Hebrewes who gave names or Titles to Books 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sepher Tehillim i. e. The Book of Hymnes or Prayses because the Divine Praises of God are the chiefe subject-matter of the Psalmes In the Old Testament THE PSALMS OF ISRAEL 2 Sam. 23.1 Because penned for the use of the Israel of God In the New Testament 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The PSALMES Luk 24.44 And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The BIBLE or BOOK OF PSALMES Luk. 20.42 Act. 1.20 Because the Psalmes are digested into one volume The Greeke cals it also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The Psalter from the Psaltery a musicall instrument used in singing of the psalmes Anciently it was called Soliloquium i. e. The Soliloquy because it containes the Saints sweetest and secret talkings with God in prayers and prayses and Gods with them in precious returnes Parva Biblia Summarium V. Test. i. e. The little Bible and the Summary of the Old Testament Luth Totius Scripturae Epitome i. e. The Epitome of the whole Scriptures Athanas. in Epist. ad Marcel It is a compendium of all divinity a common shop of Medicines for the soule an universall store-house of good Doctrines profitable to every one in all conditions Basil in Psal. 1. By August lib. PsalmoruÌ„ Prol. it s call'd Tutela pueris juvenibus ornamentum solatium senibus mulieribus aptissimus decor i. e. A safeguard for children an Ornament to youth a solace to aged men and the fittest comelinesse for women The psalmes are a Iewel made up of the Gold of Doctrine of the pearles of comfort of the Gemmes of prayer This book is a Theater of Gods works A sweet field and Rosary of promises A Paradise of sweet fruits and heavenly delights An ample Sea wherein tempest-tossed soules find richest pearles of consolation An heavenly schoole wherein God himself is chiefe instructer The abridgment flower and quintessence of Scriptures A glasse of divine grace representing to us the sweetest smiling fatherly countenance of God in Christ. And a most accurate Anatomie of a Christian soule delineating all its affections motions temptations plunges with their proper remedies Incipientibus primum efficitur elementum proficientibus incremenâ—um perfectis stabile firmamentum totius Ecclesiae vox una i. e. It is rudiment for the young increase for the proficient firm establishment for the perfect it s as but one voice of the whole Church August ibid. In a word Quid est quod non discatur in Psalmis Non omnis magnitudo virtutis non norma justitiae non pudicitiae decor non prudentiae consummatio non patientiae regula non omne quicquid potest dici bonum procedit ex ipsis Dei scientia perfecta praenunciatio Christi in carne venturi communis resurrectionis spes suppliciorum metus gloriae pollicitatio mysteriorum revelatio Omnia prorsus in his velut magno quodam communi thesauro recondita atque conferta sunt bona i. e. What is it that may not be learned in the Psalmes Doth not the greatnesse of all vertue the Rule of Righteousnesse the gracefulnesse of charity the Consummation of prudence the law of patience and every thing that may be called good flow from them The knowledge of God the perfect Prediction of Christ to come in the flesh the common hope of the Resurrection the feare of punishments the Promise of glory the revelation of mysteries yea all good things are hid and heaped together in these Psalmes as in some great and common Treasury Aug. in lib. Psalmorunt Prolog For if we look at the matter of the Psalmes how rich is it Consider In the Book of Psalms 1. God dealeth with us by 1. Information thence arise Psalmi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Didacticall or Teaching Psalms 2. Exhortation thence the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the Hortatory Psalmes or Admonitory Ps. 3. Consolation thence the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Consolatory Psalms 4. NarratioÌ„ of things already past thence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the Historicall Psalmes 5. Prediction or foretelling of things to come thence Psalmi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the Propheticall Psalmes 2. We deal with God
by 1. Prayer whence Psalmi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e Petitory or Praying Psalms 2. Prayse thanksgiving thence Psalmi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. the Gratulatory or Thanksgiving Psalms Penmen of the Book of Psalmes are supposed by some to be many and the Titles of divers Psalmes do import as much unto us Ten Pen-men are enumerated viz. David Solomon Moses Asaph Ethan Heman Ieduthun and the three sons of Korah but Augustine thinks David was Penman of them all de Civitat dei l. 17. c. 14. However David penned greatest part of them as the Titles and Testimonies in the New Testament do intimate Some thinke that Ezra after the Babylonish Captivity collected these Psalmes before dispersed into one volume Some think this was done by King Hezekiah's friends or servants before the Babylonish Captivity Athanasius in Synopsi Sum and Scope of the Psalms seems to be To set out the sweet entercourse and Communion betwixt God his Church and people in all outward Conditions and inward soul cases how therin they are weak or strong believe hope joy lament confesse pray vow praise the Lord c. as occasion requires and how God tries delivers comforts supports encourages instructs enables them and faithfully deales with them in all variety of their cases and conditions But every particular Psalme hath his particular Scope handling distinct matters upon distinct occasions Some being penned before some under some after the Babylonish Captivity as is evident Principal parts This Book is by the Hebrews divided into five Books viz. 1. From Psal. 1. to the end of Psal. 41. concluded with Amen and Amen 2. From Psal. 42. to the end of Psal. 72. shut up with Amen and Amen Ended are the Prayers of David son of Iesse 3. From Psal. 73. to the end of Psal. 89. closed with Amen and Amen 4. From Psal. 90. to the end of Psal. 106. ended with Amen Halelu-jah 5. From beginning of Psal. 107. to the end of Psal. 150. concluding with Halelu-jah This Division seems to arise from the peculiar close of these five Psalmes Or thus The Psalmes are either 1 Directed from man to God as the 1 Praying and 2 Thankesgiving Psalms 2 Or from God to man As the Psalmes which are 1 Hortatory 2 Consolatory 3 Didacticall 4 Propheticall The Particular unfolding of the Penman Kind Occasion Matter Scope and Principall Parts of every Psalme severally will make a large Appendix to this Tract and is reserved till some other opportunity 2. In Solomons Books the wisest of Kings 1 King 3.12 4.29 His Bookes are three which according to the severall Doctrines and matters comprised in them we may distinguish into 1 Proverbiall 2 Penitentiall and 3 Nuptiall It is hard to say at what time these severall Books were penned by Solomon yet perhaps the Nuptiall Book was penned in his younger years when his affections were more warme active lively in spirituals The Proverbiall Book in his manly ripe age when his prudence and parts were at highest most grave solid setled And the Penitentiall Book in his old age after all the vaine courses which he had lost himselfe in as the current of the Book seems clearly to evidence Proverbs 1. HIs Proverbiall Book called the PROVERBS OF SOLOMON because though it containe other's Proverbs yet most are Solomon's Prov. 1.1 In Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Misâ—le Shelomoh i. e. either Similitudes or excelling sentences that overcome and beare rule over the rest from mashal which notes dominion This book was penned not by one but by divers and that not at one but at severall times Solomon penned the nine first chapters in that Order as they are as also c. 10. to c. 25. Cartwright in loc Solomon was Author of the Proverbs also from c. 25. to c. 30. But the men of Hezekiah King of Iudah copied them out Prov. 25.1 probably they collected them out of other writings of Solomon and ranked them in this Order wherein we now have them Alsted Praecog Theol. l. 2. c. 120. Cartw. in Prov. 25.1 and Iun. ibid. who thinkes they extracted these Proverbs out of the Records of the Acts of Solomon and digested them into a body most of these Proverbs appertaining to Ethicall and Civil administration The thirtieth chapter was penned by Agur sonne of Iakeh c. 30.1 of him we read elsewhere no further mention in Scripture He was a Prophet Prov. 30.1 His Proverbiall Prophecy is annexed to Solomons Proverbs perhaps because of mutuall resemblance between them The 31 th chapter containes the Proverbiall instructions with which Bathsheba trained up Solomon here called Lemuel in his tender years which instructions King Solomon committed to writing afterwards Iun. in loc Cartw. in loc The Scope To instruct men in true wisedome and understanding the very head and height whereof is the sincere feare of the Lord Prov. 1.2 to 8. To this end the Book is filled with choice succinct sententious Aphorismes Adages or Proverbs compendiously holding forth duties of Piety to God Equity to man Sobriety towards ones selfe Generall Distribution of the Book take thus I. Here 's Solomons Preface to his Proverbs w ch hath a methodicall texture and coherence in it self c. 1. to 10. II. Here is the whole Body or Book of the Proverbs themselves which are either 1. Solomons owne Proverbs which or most part are pithy distinct Aphotismes without method dependance coherence c. and these 1. Written by Solomon himselfe c. 10.1 to c. 25.1 2. Written by him and collected by the men of King Hezekiah as c. 25.1 to â— 30.1 2. Or others Proverbs by way of Appendix annexed to Solomons viz 1 Of Agur. c. 30. 2. Of Bathsheba but written by Solomon c. 31. Ecclesi 2. HIs Penitential Book Solomons Retractations or Recantations called in Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The WORDS OF THE PREACHER Eccles. 1.1 and to the same sense in Greek Latin and English ECCLESIASTES or The Preacher because Solomon being furnished with wisedome and manifold experience touching the vanity of all things besides true Religion preacheth the same to the Church for the instruction and warning of all Gods people This Book he wrote in extream Old age Repenting of his fall This seemes to be one of his last Acts according to that 2 Chron. 9.29 Scope of this Book is to evidence wherein a mans true happinesse consists viz. not in any sublunary naturall created excellency all such being vanity of vanities extreamest vanity and vexation of Spirit but only in true sincere feare of God and truth of Religion compare Eccles. 1.2 with Eccles. 12.13 14. Principall parts To this end touching true happinesse he insists upon it 1. Negatively showing where it is not to be found viz Generally not in any meer naturall sublunary treasure in this world Specially not in 1. Knowledge of all naturall things 2. Pleasures or sweetest earthly delights 3. Highest Honours Or 4. Compleatest riches c. 1. to c. 7. 2. Positively and Affirmatively
wherein true felicity is to be found and this he showes 1. Particularly declaring what are the degrees and meanes of happinesse so farre as a man may attaine thereunto in this imperfect life c. 7. to c. 12.8 2. Summarily in the close of the whole Book c. 12.8 to the end This Book is an undeniable Argument of Solomons repentance after his Relapse and consequently of his salvation Song of Songs 3. HIs Nuptiall Book treating of the spiritual Contract and Marraiage betwixt Christ and his Church called the SONG OF SONGS which was Solomons c. 1.1 and CANTICLES because of all Solomons Songs which were 1005. 1 King 4.32 This was the choycest and most excellent the matter thereof being one of the sweetest spirituall mysteries viz. the Churches spirituall espousals to and Communion with Jesus Christ that great mystery Eph. 5.32 Scope of this Song is under the Metaphor or Allegory of lovers upon Contract and intending marriage to shadow out to us that sublime spirituall happy union and Communion betwixt Christ and his Church inchoate in this life more imperfectly with the Iewes more perfectly with the Gentiles Consummate in the life to come This is carried on dialogue-wise betwixt Christ and his Church His friends and her Damosels being the foure speakers especially the two first As is the Custome of a Bridegroome and a Bride Principall parts of this Song of Songs I. The Inscription denoting the 1 kind of writing 2 Excellency 3 and Penman of it c. 1.1 II. The substance of the Song Streaming out a Torrent of spirituall love betwixt Christ and the Church laid down Dialogue-wise in a familiar Colloquy betwixt 1 Christ as the Bridegroome 2 The Church as the Bride and 3 the friends of them both rejoycing in the marriage All in a continued Allegory Herein are particularly 1. The Ardent desires of the Church after Christ as impatient of his absence with Christs acceptance thereof c. 1. ver 2. to 9. 2. The Reciprocall invitatory Commendations of one another and the mutuall gratulations and contentment of Christ and the Church in one another c. 1.9 to the end of c. 2. 3. The Churches renewed desires night and day at home and abroad in the City in the fields as it were to bring Christ neerer to her self c. 3.1 to 6. yea rather to have her selfe brought immediately to the full enjoyment of Christ in heaven v. 6. to the end 4. Christ most affectionately Prayseth his Church in her Members professing himselfe ravished with her faith graces and spirituall beauty c. 4.1 to 15. which is amplified 1. By the Churches selfe-denying acknowledging all her graces to come from Christ as the fountaine v 15. 2. By her Prayer for his influence to make her as a Garden of spices more and more fruitfull and for his presence to accept her fruit v. 16. 3. By Christs satisfying her desires comming into his Garden Accepting the fruits thereof and welcoming his friends c. 5.1 5. The Churches Spirituall Desertion in Christs withdrawing himselfe from her Where are I. The occasion of it Her carnall Scurity c. 5.2.3 II. The Manner of it withdrawing yet leaving some quickning grace behinde him v. 4 5. III. The Consequents of it in respect of 1. The Church her selfe v. 4 5 6. 2. The Watchmen abusing her ver 7. 3. The Daughters of Ierusalem whom she charged to signifie her distresse to her beloved ver 8. This charge is amplified 1 Partly by the inquiry of the Daughters of Ierusalem what Christ is ver 9. 2 Partly by the Churches Patheticall description of Christs transcendent excellencies ver 10. to the end 3 Partly by the inquiry of the daughters of Jerusalem after Christ c. 6.1 4 Partly by the Churches declaring to them where Christ was viz. He was now returned and gone down into his Garden c. 6.2 5 Partly by her affectionate complacency in Christ returned ver 3. 6. Christs sweet and consolatory deportment towards his Church after her Desertion and his returne to her Wherein 1. He assures her she is as precious in his eyes and as deare to his heart as ever c. 6.4 to 11. 2. He declares his desire after the Spirituall Spring of the Churches graces after the winter of her afflictions ver 11. 3. He discovers the Rapture of his ravished affections to her most sweetly inviting her to himselfe ver 12 13. most highly commending her throughout c. 7.1 to 8. and promising his presence and what he will do for her that she may become most delightfull to him v. 8.9 7. Finally the Church reciprocates her utmost affection to Christ for his love And this I. More Generally c. 7.10 II. More Particularly Her desire 1 That Christ and she may go together to view their Husbandry whether their plants did flourish and fructifie viz. The Gospel thrive ver 11 12 13. 2 That she may enjoy Christ most intimately and familiarly c. 8. 1 2 3. 3. That the Daughters of Jerusalem may not disturbe him ver 4. 4. That it may be considered what she hath forgone and undergone for Christs love ver 5. 5. That Christ would give her a fuller 1 Confirmation of his love setting her as a seale upon his heart and a fuller 2 Manifestation or evident assurance therof Setting her as a Seale upon his Arme strengthning helping her c. and this because she beares to Christ an invincible and unquenchable love ver 6 7. 6. That the Gentiles called A little Sister may be called and incorporated into the Church with the Jewes ver 8 9 10. This is amplified by Christs common care of both as one Vineyard kept by himselfe not by others as Solomons was ver 11 12. Christ teaching his Spouse her duty To her neighbours in publishing and bearing witnesse to his Truth To himselfe in Prayer and Thanksgiving ver 13. III. The Conclusion of the Song containing the Churches most Ardent Desire after Christs second coming that the marriage betwixt Christ and her selfe may be compleatly consummated in Heaven those Mountaines of spices c. 8.14 III. THE PROPHETICALL BOOKS THus farre of Books Historicall and Doctrinal Now to the Books Propheticall For distinction sake they are called PROPHETICALL because the matter of them is principally Propheticall though many Historical and Doctrinal passages are also inserted in them all along as there are many prophecies of things to come dispersed up and down the other Books which yet are principally Historical and Doctrinal These Prophetical Books are in all 16 Lamentations being counted an Appendix to Ieremiah they may be considered 1. According to the times of their prophecy and writing 2. According to their Order as set in our Bibles They are not placed in our Bibles in that method and Order as they were at the first spoken and written by the prophets I. According to the times wherein they were first prophesied and written These times are for most part discovered in the beginning of the severall Prophesies and of such we may determine certainly
or they may be collected from other Scriptures or the matter of the Prophesies of which we cannot conclude altogether so cleerly These times may be referred as the Historical books to three principall Periods viz. 1. Before 2. Neere or under 3. After the Babylonish captivity And if in these three periods we parallel these Prophets with those Historical Books they will notably help to cleer and explain one another I. Before the transportation of Israel into Babylon These Prophets prophesied and wrote viz. 1. Under Vzziah King of Judah and Ieroboam the second King of Israel IONAH he prophecied before or about beginning of Ieroboams Reigne See 2 King 14 25. As Iun. noteth in Ionah 1.1 About the close of his Reigne thinkes Drusius in Quaesitis Epist. 9. 1. AMOS See Amos 1.1 2. Under Vzziah Iotham Ahaz and Hezekiah Kings of Judah and Ieroboam King of Israel HOSEA Hos. 1.1 IOEL Ioel prophesied about the same time with Hosea as is thought because the things prophecied in Ioel relate to the dayes of Vzziah and Ieroboam See Iun. Annot. in Ioel 1.1 ISAIAH Isa. 1.1 here the days of King Ieroboam are not mentioned MICHAH Only under Iotham Ahaz and Hezekiah Mich. 1.1 3. Under Iosiah IEREMIAH Till the eleventh yeere of Zedekiah Jer. 1 2 3. being compared with Ier. 51.64 Iun. Annot. ibid. LAMENTATIONS Written by Ieremiah upon occasion of King Josiah's Death 2 Chr. 35.25 ZEPHANIAH Zeph. 1.1 OBADIAH Seems to be contemporary with Ieremiah compare his prophecy with Ier. 49.7 c. And Ezek. 25. 13. c. See Iun. in Obad. 1. NAHVM About the close of Iosiah's Reigne as the matter of the Book and the harmony of the History import So Iun. in Nah. 1.1 HABBAKKVK About the end of Iosiahs Reigne or in his sons Reign Iunius in Hab. 1.1 II. Neere upon and under the Babylonish Captivity DANIEL In the third yeere of Iehoiakim's Reigne Dan. 1.1 EZEKIEL In the fifth yeere of King Iehoiakin's Captivity Ezek. 1.1 2 3. III. After their returne from Babylons Captivity HAGGAI In the second yeere of Darius and the sixth moneth Hag. 1.1 ZECHARIAH In the second yeere of Darius the eighth moneth Zech. 1.1 MALACHI Last Prophecy of the Old-Testament Reproves the corruptions after building of the Temple See Iun. in Mal. 1.1 II. According to their Order as they are placed in our Bibles And so they are resolved into two Ranks viz. 1. The Greater Prophets viz. The foure first the Lamentations being annexed as an Appendix to Ieremiah so called not because these had greater authority then the others but from the greatnesse of their Bookes The prophecy of Isaiah being neer as big or bigger then all the lesser prophets together 2. The Lesser Prophets viz. The twelve latter Hosea c. Which were digested into one volumne of old by the Jewes called the Booke of the Prophets Act. 7.42 some of them being very small lest any of them should be lost All these books are named from their Penmen except the Lamentations I. The Greater Prophets are â—he Books of Isaiah Ieremiah Ezekiel Daniel Isaiah ISAIAH This Book is set first though in time Ionah Amos Hosea and Ioel seeme to have been before him perhaps because of the excellency of the Prophecy most frequently fully and clearly prophecying of Christ as if Christ had been exhibited already had suffered already Hence the Ancients called him Evangelisticus Propheta Propheticus Evangelista The Evangelicall Prophet and Propheticall Evangelist Or the Evangelist and Apostle of the Old Testament Christ and his Apostles greatly esteemed this Book it being oftner alledged in the New Testament then any other Book of the Old Testament except the psalms Some observe Isaiah to be quoted sixty times the Psalmes sixty foure times Alsted Ethiopians had great respect to this Book as appears Act. 8.27.28 Time of this Prophecy was in foure Kings Reigns Isa. 1.1 if we reckon from the death of Vzziah Isa. 6.1 till the fifteenth yeare of King Hezekiah when the Babilonish Ambassadours came to Hezekiah and saw all his Treasures 2 King 20. 12 13 14. He must at the least prophecy fourty five years but its probable he prophecied longer Scope To hold forth the true Messiah clearly as the only sufficient Remedy against all sin and misery Generall parts This Prophecy is either 1. Comminatory as it is for the most part till c. 40. these promises are now and then inter-woven Herein 1. The Jewes are threatned c. 1. to c. 13. 2. Enemies of the Jewesh Church are threatned for the Churches benefit c 13. to c. 29. 3. The Jewes againe are threatned with the Babylonish Captivity c. 29. to 40. 2. Promissory and that 1. For the Restauration of the Old Church of the Jews from the misery of that Captivity c. 40. to c. 49. 2. For the compleating and consummation of the Churches glory in Gospel times by Christ himselfe c. 49. to the end of the Prophecy Jeremiah JEREMIAH He was of the Towne of Anathoâ—h Jer. 1.1 a very young man when he began to prophesie Ier. 1.6 Time of his prophecy was in days of Iosiah Iehoiakin and Zedekiah Jer. 1.2 3. which must needs be fourty three years at least by computation both in Iudea and Egypt Scope To divorce the Iewes in his times from their many horrid sins denouncig heavy judgemenas against them But to comfort the true servants of God in their lowest misery with promises of Christ and threatnings against all their enemies Generall parts Herein are 1. The Preface containing the vocation of Ieremiah c. 1. 2 The Prophecy it self which is directed both against the Iews the enemies of the Jewes â— Against the Jews 1. in Iudea under King Iosiah c. 2. to c. 21. Under Iehoiachim and Zedekiah c. 21. to c. 43. 2. In Egypt c. 43.44.45 2 Against the Jewes enemies viz. Egyptians c. 46. Philistines and Tyrians c. 47. Moabites c. 48. Ammonites Edomites c. c. 49. Babylonians c. 50.51 3. Conclusion Historicall annexed to the Prophecy by some other then Ieremâ—ah c. 52. Lamenta UNto the prophecy of JEREMIAH may be annexed as an Appendix the Book of LAMENTATIONS called in Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Kinoth i. e. Lamentations 2 Chron. 35.25 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Echah viz. the first Hebrew word of the Book as many other Books are named by the first word of the Book This Book seems to be penned by Ieremiah the Prophet upon the death of that precious King â—osiah 2 Chron. 35.25 when the Jewes fell to their sinfull confidence in Egypt which Beginnings of sorrows and miseries gave Ieremy occasion he knowing by the spirit of Prophecy the judgments which should befall them to lament all the miseries from Iosiahs death till the destruction of the Temple and Ierusalem and captivity of the people in Babylon The foure first chapters are penned alphebetically as many Psalmes are for help of memory in such an excellent piece as this is In 1.2 4. chapters every verse begins
with a distinct letter of the Hebrew Alphabet c. 3. hath only every third verse so beginning Most mournefull melting patheticall affections abound in the whole Book Greg. Nazianzen Affirmed thus of himselfe As oft as I take this Book into my hands and read the Lamentations I perceive my speech to be stopped and I am overwhelmed with tears and methinks I see that Calamity as it were set before mine eyes and I joyne Lamentations with Jeremiah Greg. Nazianzen Or. 12. pag. 202. Paris 1630. Scope seemes to be this Lively to point out the severity and impartiality of Gods judgements even against his own dearest people the Iewes for their iniquities inviting them to repentance faith and prayer for obtaining of Gods favour in pardoning of sin and removall of judgement Principall parts Are I. Narratory wherein are contained 1. A most Patheticall Description of the wofull miseries overwhelming Ierusalem and Iudea yet all acknowledged to be most justly inflicted for their sin c. 1. 2. A mournfull expostulating lamentation for the desolating miseries upon all persons and affairs Civil or Ecclesiasticall in the whole Kingdome c. 2. 1. to 19. 3. The Prophets counsell to them to Convert to God and pray and he gives them a forme of words c. 2. verse 19.20 21 22. 4. The Churches sad complaints in one mans person of Gods many and heavy afflictions upon her c. 3. 1. to 18. 5. The Arguments of comfort wherewith the Church supported her selfe in these extremities v. 18. to 42. 6. How the Church eased her heart in crying to God for her selfe against her enemies v. 42. to the end 7. Most Patheticall Aggravations of her calamities c. 4.1 to 21. II. Minatory against the enemies of Israel c. 4.21 III. Promissory to the afflicted daughter of Sion c. 4.22 IIII. Petitory wherein the Church of God 1 bewaileth her miseries 2 Acknowledgeth sin to be the cause thereof 3 Deprecats his wrath 4 And implores his mercy c. 5. Ezekiel EZEKIEL He was descended of the Priestly stock Ezek. 1.3 Prophecyed in the land of Chaldea to the Captives and Gentiles in the fifth yeare of Iehoiachin's captivity Ezek. 1.1 2 3. Scope To comfort the Church of God in Captivity and to instruct them how to behave themselves therein amongst profane Heathenish Idolaters Generall parts Herein are I. The Preface setting forth the Prophets calling to this office Gods call c. 1. Ezekiels fearfulnes c. 2. Gods confirming and strengthning him c. 3. II. The Prophecy it self containing three Ranks of Sermons preached at severall times to severall persons c. 1. To the Iews whom he sharply rebuks threatens for their impieties in seventeen severall sermons c. 4. to c. 25. 2. To the enemies of Gods people whose ruine and destruction he foretels in eight sermons c. 25. to c. 33. 3. To the Jewes exhorting them to repentance and encouraging them to hope not only for an inchoate deliverance from Babylons slavery and that in six sermons c. 33. to c. 40. But also for a consummate spirituall deliverance from spirituall misery by Christ the Messiah and this is set out in vision 1 Of the new Temple to be erected c. 40.41 42. 1 Of the new Worship of God to be restored c. 43.44 3 Of the new Ierusalem and new earth that should be discovered c. 45.46 47 48. Daniel DANIEL Daniel was carried captive with the Jewes into Babylon Dan. 1.6 living and prophecying among the Captives a long time foretold future events to the end of the world Was a man of an excellent spirit Dan. 5.12 Author of this Book Matth. 24.15 Dan. 12.4 Scope To display unto Gods Church and people Gods wise and faithfull dealings with them in all states from dayes of Nebuchadnezzar till Christ for the comfort of the Iews and from Christ to the end of the world his peculiar Providence over his own in all their distresses and deliverances for the comfort of the Saints under the New Testament Generall Parts This book relates principally two sorts of matters viz. 1. Matters done already for time past laid down Historically c. 1. to 7. and these things are reported 1. Summarily c. 1. 2 Severally under the Babylonian Monarchy whereof we have 1 The Rise c. 2.3 2 The Growth c. 4. 3 The close c. 5. Or under the Persian Monarchy c. 6. 2. Matters to be done afterwards for future laid down Prophetically c. 7. to the end of the book He prophecies 1. Of future Calamities where in days of Belshazzar he had a double vision Of the foure beasts c. 7. Of the Ram and He-goat c. 8. In the time of the Persian Monarchy where he hath a double vision One in the first yeare of Darius the Mede c. 9. The other in the third yeare of Cyrus c 10. with the exposition of them c. â—1 2. Of the Elects deliverance from these calamities both before and after Christ to the worlds end though calamities of the Saints be sharp and long yet at last deliverance shall fully come and the promise thereof not faile but be exactly fulfilled c. 12. 2 The Lesser Prophets or Minor Prophets so called not because they had lesser Authority from God for their Propheticall office but because their Books are of a farre lesse bulk and volume then the former They are twelve Hosea Ioel c. Hoshea HOSHEAH he was sonne of Beeri Prophecyed the same time that Isaiah did Hos. 1.1 with Isa. 1.1 2. He prophecyed as is probable longer then any other of the Prophets in all about seventy years Principally deals against the ten Tribes of Israel now and then against Iudah His stile is sharp and succinct which makes him somewhat more dark and obscure Scope To convince the Iewes especially the ten Tribes of their many great iniquities especially of their idolatryes and to perswade them to repentance with hope of mercy Generall parts This Prophecy is either I. Parabolicall comprehending two Types The first being propounded c. 1. Accommodated c. 2. The second in c. 3. In both which under the Person of a Prophet he signifies in himselfe future events and evils that should befall the Kingdome and kingly house of Israel Captivity Blindnesse of the people Illumination and Conversion of a remnant by Christ. II. Plaine and naked And so it is Comminatory and Consolatory 1. Comminatory which is laid downe chiefly in three sermons or speciall Prophecies viz. 1. Against all Israel for their vanity inhumanity impiety too evident in the Kingdomes present bad Government dehorting Iudah from Israels sins both by the horrour of their injustice and feare of punishment c. 4. 2. Against Priests Israel and the kings house threatning ruine for their spirituall whoredome and obstinate backsliding from God observance of humane Traditions carnall conâ—idence in forraine Aid of Assyrians Contempt of Gods word casting off Gods Covenant and other wickednesses and hypocrisies c. 5 6 7. And all this under the Person of a judge 3. Vnder the Person of an Herauld he proclaimes Gods judgements against
them and the causes thereof viz. for their defection from his worship and spirituall Kingdome and from the temporall Kingdome of David Hypocrisie departing from all good secure joyfulnesse sacriledge and other hereditary sins threatning poverty deportation losse of Gods worship death and devastation c. 8 9 10 2. Consolatory which containes two sermons 1. Under the person of a Father God promising in Christ that though neither Prophet law mercies nor judgements had brought them to repentance yet his Elect should be converted embrace Christ and the promises c. 11. 2. Disswading them from Perâ—idiousnesse Idolatry Avarice Pride he promiseth the wicked being destroyed to preserve a remnant and to heale the penitent c. 12 13 14. in c. 14. putting on the person of a Friend Joel JOEL Ioel was sonne of Pethuel Joel 1.1 Some think this Pethuel was Samuel so called i. e. A perswader of God Because what he asked of God in Prayer he obtained Alst. Scope to convince the Iewes of their sins by occasion of an imminent famine and to draw them to repentance holding forth many inviting promises to the penitent Generall Parts This Prophecy is 1. Comminatory threatning a grievous famine taking occasion thereof by the Locâ—sts Caterpillers and Palmer wormes the forerunners of a famine labouring to make the people sensible of present evils and sins the cause thereof c. 1. 2. Hortatory stirring them up to publique repentance c. 2. ver 1. to 19. Which Exhortation is urged 1. By promises to his people both touching Temporall deliverances from present evils ver 19. to 28. Eternall Evangelicall mercies in Christ ver 28. to the end of the chap. 2. By threats against their adversaries on every side c. 3. Amos. AMOS Amos an heardman of Tekoa yet furnished with a Propheticall spirit Amos 1.1 Severely denounceth judgements is thought to be slaine by Amaziah the Priest Scope To hold forth the severity of Gods judgements against his Churches enemies and his Church it selfe for their sins Annexing some Evangelicall Promises to a Remnant Generall Parts Herein are I. Comminations 1. Against the enemies of the Church for their insolencies against his people c. c. 1. 2. Against the Jewes and Israelites themselves for their own wickednesses which threatnings are laid down 1. More plainely against their Idolatry c 2 3. Violence c. 4. Impiety Pride inhumanity luxury c. 5.6 2. More darkly and obscurely under three severall Types the first c. 7. The second c. 8. The third c. 9. ad ver 11. II. Consolations and Evangelicall Promises c. 9. ver 11. to the end Obadiah OBADIAH Who he was is not evident by Scripture but only by this Booke that he was a Prophet He prophesied against the Edomites or Idumeans who came of Edom which is Esau Gen. 36 1.8 19. and hated Israelites Iacobs race as Esau hated Jacob himselfe Scope To threaten ruine to the Edomites for their enmity against the Israelites and to comfort the Church with promised Salvation and deliverance in Christ. Generall parts 1. A Commination of imminent ruine to the Edomites for their enmity against the Israelites ver 1. to 12. 2. A Prohibition of Edom from further injurâ—ng his people ver 12. to 17. 3. Ample promises of deliverance and salvation to the Church by the kingdom of Christ from all her enemies ver 17 to the end Jonah JONAH He was son of Amittaâ— Ionah 1.1 Some call him The Prophet and Apostle of the Gentiles because he was sent to preach to Ninive the Metropolis of the Assyrians a Gentilish City This Booke is chiefly Historicall Scope To shew how God invited the City of Niniveh to repentance by Ionas preaching Generall parts 1. Gods first calling of Jonas to preach to Niniveh with Jonas his refusall Gods humbling him for it and the effects of that humiliation Ionas his Prayer and deliverance c. 1 2. 2. Gods second calling of him to the same taske together with Jonas his obedience Ninive's Repentance Gods forbearance of the Judgement threatned and Ionas his passionate causelesse discontent c. 3 4. Nineveh Repenting aggravated Israel's and Judah's impenitency Micah MICAH He is described Mic. 1.1 Coetaneous to Esay imitator of Esay compare them together Prophecied in corruptest times Scope To threaten destruction to Iudah and Israel for their great impieties fomented among them by their Rulers and Prophets but to comfort the remnant of the Elect by Evangelicall Promises in Christ. Generall parts I. His first Sermon 1. Minatory both in generall against Iudah and Israel for their sins c. 1 2. and in especiall against Magistrates for their injustice c. 3. 2. Consolatory through the mercies of God and the coming of the Messiah c. 4 5. II. His second Sermon contaninig Gods 1. contestations against their sinnes c. 6. 2. Gods Consolations of his Elect remnant with Gospel promises c. 7. Nahum NAHUM He is described Nah. 1.1 About same time that Ieremiah prophecyed in Iudea Nahum prophecyed against Nineveh the Metropolis of Assyria relapsing to impiety after Ionas his preaching before Babylons Captivity Scope To comfort the Iewes and the godly Israelites by the denouncing of judgments against the Assyrians who under Pul Tiglath-Pelesar Salmanazar Senacherib and Esarhaddon their Kings grievously infested Israel Esarhaddon carrying Israel Captive to Assyria in dayes of Mannasseh Generall parts I. A Preface to the prophecy from the Nature of God 1. Most potent and severe against all his wicked enemies c. 1. ver 2. to 7. 2. Kind and gracious to the godly and faithfull ver 7. II. Denunciation of judgement against Nineveh and the kingdom of Assyria under the Metaphor of a mighty â—lood that should at last destroy them c. 1.8 9 10. Together with the causes of those judgements ver 11. to the end of the chap. III. Amplification of these threatned judgments 1. Partly by a lively Ad-umbration and description of them c. 2. 2. Partly by a Narration of the causes procuring these judgmeÌ„ts viz Their Cruelties whordoms sorceries Idolatries c. 3.1 to 8. 3. Partly by confirmation of these threatnings fore-prophecied by example of Gods judgements upon Alexandria in Aegypt c. 3.8 to the end Habakk HABAKKUK As Nahum prophesied against Niniveh and Assyrians so Habakkuk against both Iewes and Babylonians Scope Both to warne the Iewes of their overthrow by the Chaldeans for their sinnes and to comfort them afterwards by their enemies destruction but their own life of Faith in deepest afflictions The prophesy is laid down Dialogue-wise Generall parts I. The prophets Complaint and Expostulation to the LORD against the extreame wickednesse of the Iewes c. 1.2 3 4. II. The LORDS answer to the prophet threatning great calamities to the Iewes by the proud destructive Caldeans ver 5. to 12. III. A second Expostulation of the prophet against the cruel oppression of Iewes as well good as bad under the wicked blaspemous King of Caldeans ver 12. to the end of the chap. IIII. Gods second answer to the Prophet 1. Directing the good to manage such deep
high mystery of Christs Divinity and Godhead D. Ambros. Praefat. in Evang. secund Luc. But leave we these notions of wit which seem rather to be similitudes allusions or Allegories used for illustration rather then Arguments for demonstration why these foure should write our blessed Saviours History We may rather conceive Christs History was written by these foure 1. Because God who appointed many witnesses of Christs doctrine and works c. not only to Ierusalem all Iudea and Samaria but to the utmost parts of the earth Act. 1.8 10.39 41 24. did peculiarly stirre up these foure persons by his spirit to this work for holy men writ who were moved and as moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.20 21. 2. This History of Christ is the History of Histories of greatest worth in it selfe and concernement to us and likely to be most opposed by the Devil the wicked world c. therfore God that requires two or three witnesses for confirmation of things Deut. 17. 6. Heb. 10.28 makes use of foure witnesses to write Christs story that by the writings of foure every thing might he established beyond suspition 3. That we may see the authority of the Gospel depends not upon the Pen-men thereof but upon the Holy Ghost that indites it and therefore this History is written not only by Matthew and Iohn Apostles who were eye and eare-witnesses of what Christ did and spake but also by Mark and Luke the Apostles followers who stedfastly believed the Apostles report Luk. 1.1 2. though notâ— eye-witnesses themselves yet were incited thereto by the spirit 4. That this Gospel-History might be compleated one explaining what another left obscure for matter or order one supplying what another had omitted As Matthew who wrote first as Pareus thinks Proem in Matth. p. 599. viz. in the ninth yeare after Christs ascension for the most part relates the things done but seldome insists upon the order of doing them Mark who wrote next viz. in the tenth yeare after Christs ascension briefly relates what Matthew did more largely Mark being as an Abstract or Epitome of Matthew but withall he more insists upon the ordering and timing of things done Luke who wrote in the fifteenth year after Christs ascension having seen others writings propounds to himselfe to write of things from the very first and that methodically It seemed good to me also having had perfect understanding of things from the very first to write unto thee in Order Luke 1.3 In many things he shews the order of things by circumstances and in most agrees with Mark whence Tertullian cals Lukes Gospel Digestum Historiae Evangelicae i. e. An orderly digesting of the Evangelicall Story but sometimes things manifest in Matthew and Mark he puts not in their own place Iohn who wrote his Gospel in the two and thirtieth yeare after Christs ascension professedly as Eusebius in hist. Eccles. testifies addes the Acts of Christ in the first yeare of his Ministry omitted by the rest And in the rest of his History he not only insists much upon Christs doctrine not formerly spoken to but also expressely notes the Feasts of certaine distinct years incident in the time of Christs ministry intimating that the Evangelicall History penned by others should be distributed into certain years according to those Feasts 5. Finally though the Holy Ghost could by one and the same contexture of words have given us the History of Christs words and deeds as Gerson noteth yet not without some great mystery therein he pleased sub quadam concordissima si it a dicipossit dissonantia i. e. under a certain Harmonious most concording dissonancy if we may so speake to excite the mindes of the faithfull to the more humble and vigilant investigation of the truth that so it might appear the foure Evangelists did not speak by mutuall Conspiration but by divine Inspiration Matthew THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW The English word Gospel comes from the old Saxon word Godspel i. e. Good speech The Greek word signifies Good-tydings or a Good-Message This word Gospel in New Testament is of severall acceptations It is used 1. In bad sense for a false pretended Gospel Gal. 1.6 7. 2. In good sense and that either 1. Properly and so the word is used either 1. Generally For the Doctrine or Promise of salvation freely by Christ to all that will believe Thus the Gospel is everlasting Rev. 14.6 one and the same under Old and New Testament Gal. 3.8 2. Specially for the Doctrine of grace in accomplishing the Promise by Christ exhibited this is peculiar to the New Testament Rom. 1.1.2 2 Cor. 4.4 2. Metonymically 1. For the Preaching or Ministery of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.12.14 2. For the History of Christ who is the prime Subject of the Gospel Thus the Books of the four Evangelists are called Gospells This Book is called The Gospel according to Mat. because he was Penman of it Matthew an Hebr. name in Syriack 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mattha some derive it from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mas. i. e. Tribute others from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mathach i. e. to extend to explaine c. So that Matthew should sound as much as An explainer viz. of Scripture But rather it is to be deriv'd from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nathan i. e. he hath given or bestowed whence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matthan A gift so Matthew noâ—es a Gift viz. of God vid. Greg. Gregori Lexicon sanctum Sect. 858. p. 641. Matthew was also surnamed Levi in Hebr. i. e. associated Mark 2.14 Luk. 5.29 so he had two names He was the sonne of Alpheus Mark. 2.14 By profession a publicane sitting at the Receipt of Custome Luk. 5.27 Mark 2.14 with Matth. 9.9 his calling was very infamous among the Jews yet Christ cals him from the Receipt of custome to be a disciple who presently obeyed and made Christ a great feast Luk. 5.27 28.29 Mark 2.14 15. Matth. 9.9 10. He was one of the twelve Apostles Matth. 10.3 Penman of this book Authority whereof was never questioned by the Church of Christ. He is called A most faithfull Commentator of the Gospel by Tertul. lib. de carne Christi c. 22. p. 310. edit Franeher 1597. He preached the Gospel to sinners not only by word but by exemplary correcting his own life Chrysost. in Praesat oper imperfect Matthew wrote his Gospel as some think in the one and twentieth yeare after Christs ascension Iraen l. 3. c. 1. Or the fifteenth yeare As Nicephorus l. 2. c. 45. Or the ninth yeare after Christs ascension as Pareus Proem in Matth. p. 599. and Alsted in Praecog Theol l. 2. c. 123. p. 710 Occasion of Matthews Gospel some declare thus Matthew after he had first preached to the Hebrews and thence was to go to the Gentiles he committed his Gospel to writing that so he might supply and compensate his absence by his writing left behind with them Euseb. Hist. Eccles. l. 3 c. 24. and out of
Order of the Patriarchs that as Death by reason of sinne had Reigned over the six first Fathers Adam Seth Enos Cainan Mahalelel Iared but could not touch the seventh Enoch so death shall Reigne oveâ— the world 6000 yeeres which shall so long continue but in the 7000. yeeres eternall life shall begin and death shall be swallowed up in Victory 4. But others best of all understand here as the Text seems evidently to carry it Enochs verbal Prophecie which though not written yet Iude received by Tradition or rather by Revelation of the same spirit of God by which Enoch prophecyed and here recorded as part of the Divine Canon Obj. 3. Jude alleadges other Apostles sayings ver 17. Therefore seemes rather to be a Disciple of the Apostles then an Apostle himselfe especially seeing he cals not himselfe an Apostle but the servant of Jesus Christ ver 1. And therefore this Epistle not authenticall Ans. 1. Though it could be proved Iude was no Apostle yet it therefore followes not his Epistle is not Authenticall Mark and Luke not Apostles yet the three Books they wrote are of unquestionable authority The authority of Books of Scriptur are not from the Penmen writing them but from the Spirit of God inditing them 2. Daniel cites Ieremiah Dan. 9.2 Ezekiel cites Daniel Ezek. 14.19 Were they therefore not Prophets but Prophets Disciples Peter alleadgeth Pauls Epistles 2 Pet. 3.15 16. Was Peter therefore no Apostle but onely a Disciple 3. Iudes alleadging the other Apostles derogaâ—es not from the authority of his Epistle but proves that Iude wrote after both Paul and Peter in whose Epistle these predictions are extant 1 Tim. 4.1 c. 2 Tim. 3.1 2 Pet. 2.1 c. 4. Finally though Iudas here call not himselfe an Apostle that argues not therefore he was not an Apostle Iames in his Epistle Iohn in his three Epistles Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians and in both his Epistles to the Thessalonians superscribe not themselves Apostles were they therefore no Apostles But Iudas here stiles himselfe the brother of Iames and that 's full as much as if he had stiled himselfe an Apostle for the texts are expresse that Iudas the Brother of Iames was one of the twelve Apostles See Luk. 6.16 Act. 1.13 Obj. 4. But Iude the Apostle taught in Persia and therefore had he written this Epistle he would rather have written it in the Persian then Grecian tongue Ans. 1. It s not infallibly certain that Iude was in Persia when he wrote this Epistle 2. No necessity of the Apostles writing in the language of the people with whom they then lived Matthew lived among the Ethiopians Paul at Rome when he wrote some of his Epistles yet they wrote not in Ethiopick or Latin but in Greek Greek being then the most common language in the world the Holy Ghost would have Greek to be the Originall language for New Testament as the Hebrew especially for the Old And Iudes Epistle is Catholique or Generall and therefore was written in Greek the generall tongue When and Where this Epistle was written is uncertaine Some think this Apostle was in Persia or Asia Minor when he wrote it viz. A yeere before he dyed and that he there dyed anno 68. after Christ. Niceph. l. 4. c. 40.44 Probably he wrote after both Paul and Peter to whose writings he seems to have reference v. 17. the whole Epistle is as an Abstract of Peters second Epistle Occasion seems from the current of the Epistle to be those abominable heresies of the Simonians Nicolaitanes Gnosticks c. abounding in those times times who held Sin to be indifferent womeÌ„ al things to be common c. Oecumen Epiphan in Haeres Gnostic Sec. Iud. 3.4 Scope To warne all the faithfull in those times of the cursed and detestable Hereticks and Seducers that were cunningly crept in among them that they contend earnestly for the truth against all their damnable errours and Heresies and for purity and holinesse of life against all their impure lustfull licentious and ungodly pâ—actices Iude 3 4 8 10 20 21. Principall parts To this end are I. Inscription of the whole Epistle expressing 1. Penman who wrote this Epistle 2. Parties to whom it was written 3. The Salutation of them ver 1 2. II. The substance of the Epistle wherein are laid down 1. The maine Proposition or Exhortation To contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints ver 3. There being so many lascivious hereticall men crept in among them ver 4. 2. Arguments enforcing this exhortation upon them against these lascivious Heritiques demonstrating the damnablenesse and destructivenesse of their wayes 1. By examples of Gods vengeance for like impieties and impurities in former times viz. Upon Israel for unbeliefe ver 5. Upon Angels for Apostacy ver Upon Sodom and Gomorrha c. For their lusts ver 7. These examples he applyes to these Seducers 1. Describing them by their 1. Uncleannesse ver 8. 2. Despising and reproaching Magistrates ver 8 9. 3. Impudency in reviling what they know not ver 10. 4. Bruitish intemperance in carnall pleasures ver 10. 5. Cruelty to their brethren 6. Covetousnesse 7. Seditiousnesse ver 11. 8. Epicurisme in meats and drinks ver 12. 9. Hypocrisie 10. Instability 11. Deadnesse and Barrennesse to all good fruit ver 12. 12. Wrathfulnesse 13. Shamefull uncleannesse 14. Levity and inconstancy ver 13. 2. Threatning them in generall with woe ver 11 in particular with eternall destruction ver 13. 2. By Testimonies 1. Of Enoch ver 14.15 To which he adds further descriptions of their viciousnesse ver 16. 2. Of the Apostles themselves v. 17 18. where he further describes these Heretiques by their Separation from Church assemblies by their want of Gods Spirit v. 9. 3. Hortatory Directions by way of Remedy for 1. Mutuall edification 2. Prayer v. 20. 3. Love of God ver 21. 4. Different course to be taken by them in recovering severall persons from seducements v. 22 23. 5. Zeale against all impurity v. 23 III. Conclusion of the whole Epistle with adoxology to God who is able to keep them without spot and blamelesse c. v. 24 25. III. THE PROPHETICAL BOOK Viz. THE Revelat. THE PROPHETICAL BOOK of the New Testament prophetically foretelling what shall be the future condition of the Church of Christ in all ages to the end of the world is the REVELATION OF JOHN THE DIVINE This may well be called a Propheticall Book For 1 The Holy Ghost himselfe divers times stiles it A Prophecy Rev. 1.3 and 7.10 18.19 2 And the nature of the Book is chiefly Propheticall as the Series of the Book implyes and also some passages plainly testify that it treats of things which must shortly come to passe Rev. 1.1 and things which shall be hereafter Rev. 1.19 Title This book in Greek is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The Apocalypse or Revelation of John the Divine whereby are indigitated to us both the
prophecy from the al-knowing God could foretell these things to come Isaâ— 41.22 2. In the propheticall expressions of it it is consonant to other propheticall books and gives light to them Daniel Zechariah especially Ezekiel As in the particulars of eating up the Book Rev. 10.9 10. with Ezek. 2.8 and 3.3 of sealing Gods promise Rev. 7.2 3. with Ezek. 9. of the foure living Creatures Rev. 4.6 7. with Ezek. 1.5.6 of Gog and Magog Rev. 20.8 with Ezek 38.2 and 39.1 of the measuring of the Temple and City Rev. 21.15 with Ezek. 40.3 c. Of the two olive trees c. Rev. 11.4 with Zech. 4.3 11 14. c. 3. Many things foretold in this Book prophetically are fulfilled and come to passe actually As Interpreters have observed in many particulars Therefore this Book is of divine Authority Ierem. 28.9.4 Promise of explaining how long the Idolatrous and Tyrannicall Kingdome of Anti-Christ should last was made to Daniel the Prophet Dan. 12.4 9. which some conceive to be fulfilled in these Apocalypticall visions Rev. c. 11. and 12. and 13. and 17. c. And had not Christ under the New Testament left his Church some propheticall Record for her comfort against the horrid cruelty idolatry and darknesse of the Anti-christian Dominion showing when it should have an end and how happy at last the Church should be all her enemies being universally made the footstool of the Lambe she were in a worse condition then under the Old Testament which were absurd 4. As the Holy Ghost by Moses the first Penman of the Canon of the Old Testament warned the Jewes against adding to or diminishing from the word of God yee shall not adde unto the word which I command you neither shall you diminish from it Deut. 9.2 and 12.32 So by the Apostle Iohn the last Penman of the Canon of the New Testament Iesus Christ warneth all persons that heare the words of this Prophecy If any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this Book And if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the Holy City and from the things which are written in this Book Rev. 22.18 19. By which severe Commination the integrity and divine Authority of this Book is asserted by Christ against all whom Christ foresaw would either indeavour to infringe the Authority of it or corrupt the purity of it Hereby then the whole divine Canon is sealed up as fully now compleat and divinely Authenticall after which we are to expect no more Scripture from God 5. The generall current of best Antiquity except some few particular persons and divers of them guilty of such heresies as this Book condemnes hath embraced this Book and accounted it of divine Authority As those formerly cited to prove Iohn the Apostle to be Penman of it and many more that might be enumerated As that ancient Ancyran Councel held before the Nicene in Append. as also the third Councell of Carthage Can. 47. Cyprian frequently alledges the Revelation among the other Canonicall bookes as De exhort martyrum c. 8. c. 11. c. 12. Testimon Advers Iudaeos l. 2. c. 1. Sect. 3.6 11. c. 6. The Cavils and Objections against the divine Authority of this Book reckoned up by Erasmus or others how weak and unsatisfactory they are may appeare in severall writers who have confuted them Especially vid. Bez. Prolegom in Apocylaps Ioannis and Gerh. loc Com. De scrip sac in exeges cap. 10. Sect. 294. ad sin cap. Excellency of this Book is most considerable For 1. The conveyance of it at first to the Church is singular From God to Iesus Christ From Iesus Christ to an Angel From the Angel to Iohn whom Jesus peculiarly loved above all his Apostles and Disciples Rev. 1.1 And this to Iohn when in exile for Christ in the Isle Patmos and that not on a common day but on the Lords day the Queen of dayes and â—o Iohn in Patmos on the Lords day not in an ordinary but extraordinary composure and elevation of his soule when he was in the spirit caught up as it were and transported in an holy extasie and spirituall Rapture that he might the more attend to these mysteries revealed and have more immediate un-interrupted Communion with Jesus Christ the Revealer Rev. 1 9 10. c. what can all this import but some singularly eminent treasure for the Church in this book whereby the Church in her deepest tribulation may be with Iohn spiritually intransed and ravished with many surpassing grounds of joy and consolation 2. The stile is stately and sublime and may wonderfully take the highest notion The expressions quick piercing and patheticall and may pleasingly penetrate the dullest affection The whole contexture is so full of divine majesty that it commands an awfull Reverence in all gracious hearts that read it 3. The matter of it is most heavenly and spirituall and that in exceeding great variety notably describing the Divinity of Christ His offices and the benefits of them clearly pointing out Anti-Christs Seate Tyranny Rise Growth Power Acts and Fall and most lively delineating the Churches condition what it was in the Primitive times after Christ and what it should be afterwards till the worlds end how sad yet sâ—fe under Anti-christs dominion how sweet and happy after Anti-Christs destruction how comfortable at the day of judgement and how glorious in heaven with Iesus Christ for evermore What Saint would not thirst much to read and here more to understand but most of all to enjoy these things Some of them are laid downe most mystically in abstruse visions to exercise the judgements of the wisest some more familiarly to succour the infirmity even of the weakest In some places the Lamb may wade in others the Elephant may swim Those prevent contempt these anticipate discouragement Ioaoâ—imus Abbas prefers this Prophecy before the Prophecy of all other Prophets Beza saith That those things in other Prophets which were not fulfilled after Christs coming the holy spirit hath heaped them all together in this precious book and also added others so farre as was needfull or usefull for the Church to know them Bez. Prolegom in Apoc. Oecolampadius cals this book The best Paraphrast of all the Prophets Ioh. Oecolamp Praefat. in Daniâ—l Hierome saith Apocalypsis tot habet sacramenta quot verba Parum dixi pro merito voluminis laus omnis inferior est in verbis singulis multiplices latent intelligentiae i. e. The Revelation hath as many mysteries as words It s but a little I say all praise is too low for the merit of this volume manifold understandings lie hid in every word Hieron in Epist. ad Paulin. 4. The Book it selfe is compleat capable of no Addition or Detraction but upon severest Penalties Rev. 22.18.19 5. The Penman Eminent viz. John that beloved disciple
nature of the Book and the Penman of it Nature of the Book A Revelation so called because it Reveals and makes known unto us secret hidden mysteries and future events It s true this Revelation is not without mixture of much intricatenesse and obscurity as all prophecies are enigmaticall and ambiguous to men till they be effected but when the time prophecied is come then they have a more clear and certaine exposition So Iraen Advers Haeres l. 4. c. 43. And this to exercise the Reader to search out the truth as August de Civitat dei l. 20. c. 17. hath well observed Penman or instrumentall Author of it viz. Iohn the Theologue or Divine What Iohn this was some question Eusebius mentions two Iohns whose monuments were to be seen at Ephesus viz. Iohn the Evangelist who wrote the Gospel and 1 Epistle of John and Iohn the Presbyter who wrote 2. and 3. Epistle of Iohn and the Revelation Euseb. Eccles. Hist. l. 3. c. 39. To him also seems to incline Dionys. Alexandrinus in lib. de Repromissionibus But that this is a great mistake and that IOHN the Evangelist and Apostle was Penman of this Revelation may be cleared by these considerations 1. This Title attributes it to Iohn the Divine This Epithet we read no where to be given to Iohn the Presbyter but belongs to Iohn the Apostle and Evangelist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of peculiar emphasis because like an Eagle he soares aloft writes more sublimely of the Divinity of Iesus Christ both in this Book in which D. Parâ—us hath observed XLVIII Arguments of Christs Divinity as also in his Gospel Iohn 1.1 c. and in his 1. Epistle And the King of Spaines Bible of Montanus Edition hath this Greek Title before the Revelation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The Revelation of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Iohn the Divine which Title clears this matter and is consonant to Rev. 1.1 2. whether it were prefixed by Iohn or after by the Church nor is it any way probable that Christ sent his Angel to any other Iohn then to the Apostle with this Revelation 2. Iohn the Penman of this Book is so descrâ—bed that Iohn the Apostle and Evangelist seemes plainly to be indigitated Revel 1.1 2. His servant Iohn Who bare record of the word of God and of the Testimony of Iesus Christ. Now how notably did Iohn beare record of the word of God and testimony of Iesus Christ see Iohn 1.1.2.14 and 1 Iohn 1 1. and 5.9 compared with Revel 19.13 3. The style much resembles that of Iohns Gospel and Epistles As for instance It is peculiar to Iohn to stile Christ The word compare Iohn 1.1.14 1 Iohn 1.1 and 5.7 with Revel 1.2 In his Gospell he stiles Christ the Lamb of God Iohn 1.29.36 so in the Revelation Christ is called the Lamb at least 28. times 4 That Iohn who wrote this Revelation had it in the I le Patmos made known to him who was there for the name of God and Testimony of Iesus Christ Rev. 1.9 And Histories mention no other Iohn but only Iohn the Apostle to be in Patmos Banished thither by Domitian the Emperour for the Gospel's sake neer to period of his Reigne as Funccius computes about the ninety seventh year after Christ. See Euseb. Hist. Eccles. l. 3. c. 16. and 18. 5. To these might be added the Harmonious consent of ancient Fathers who unanimously conclude that Iohn the Apostle penned this Book Dionys. Areopag who was Pauls disciple Act. 17. who wrote about the sixtieth year after Christ in those writings ascribed to him calleth the Apocalypse A secret and mysticall vision of the beloved Disciple Dionys. Eccles. Hierarch c. 3. Iustin Martyr who wrote in the one hundred and fiftieth year after Christ ascribes the Apocalypse to Iohn one of the Apostles of Christ. Iustin. in Dial. ad Tryphon To which passage Eusebius relating saith Iustin mentions the Apocalypse of Iohn plainly saying it is the Apostles Euseb. Hist. Eccles. l. 4. c. 18. Irenaeus who wrote in the eightieth year after Christ saith And what things soever Iohn the disciple of the Lord saw in the Apocylapse Iraen Advers Haeres l. 4 c. 50. and l. 4. c. 37. p. 373. A. Coloniae 1596. To these might be added the suffrage of many more as of Greek Fathers Clem. Alexand. Paedag. l. 2. c. 12. Athanas. in Synops. Epiphan Haeres 51.54 76. Chrysost. Hom. 5. in Psal. 91. of Latin fathers as Tertull. contra Marcion l. 4. Cyprian de eâ—hort Martyr c. 8.10.11.12 Ambros. in Psal 50 l. 3. de spir sanct c. 21. August de Civiâ— dei l. 20. c. 7. de Haeres c. 30. de Doct. Christ. l. 2. c. 18. videantur Annot. in Irenae l. 5. c. 30. p. 490. Colon. 1596. but in so plaine a case these may suffice So that by all this it s plainly evident that the Penman of the Revelation was Iohn the Apostle that wrote the Gospel and the Epistles The unfolding of his name and who he was more particularly See in Annot. to Iohn's Gospel Authority of this Book is not Humane but Divine For 1. This book was indited by Iesus Christ himselfe the faithfull and true witnesse who sent his Angel to testifie the same to Iohn the Apostle and by him to the Churches The Revelation of Iesus Christ which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to passe and he sent and signified it by his Angel unto his servant Iohn Rev. 1.1 and towards the close of the book he saith I Iesus have sent mine Angel to testify unto you these things in the Churches Rev. 22.16 Note this Revelation was given by Iohn the Apostle to the Churches by an Angel to Iohn by Iesus Christ to that Angel by God to Iesus Christ How punctually then is the Divine Authority of it asserted 2. It was penned by Iohn the Apostle of Christ who was divinly inspired acted by the Holy Ghost as hath bin formerly manifested and therefore it is of divine Authority especially considering that this blessed Apostle was commanded by Iesus Christ to write this Book Saying I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last and whâ—â— thou seest write in a Book write the things which thou hast sâ—en and the things which are and the thingâ— which shall bâ— hereafter Rev. 1.11 19. See also Rev. 2.1.8.12.18 and 3.1 7 14. and 14.13 and 19.9 and 21.5 3. The nature of the book imports the divine Authority of it For 1. It is eminently Propheticall speaking of things that shall be hereafter Rev. 1.1 19. and 22.7 10 18 19. and the prophecies of this book are touching future events in reference to the Church to the end of the world till the Church the Lambs wife shall be fully ready for compleat marriage with the Lamb Rev. 19.7 8 9. So that neither ancient writers nor any other but such as were inspired with a spirit of