To whom shal wee goe thou hast the words of eternall life Concerning the holy Bible and bookes of the old and new Testament THE Byble or Bibles although generally it signifieth a book yet more particularly by the holie Bible is the bookes of the old and new Testament called holie for the holy Diuinity and doctrine of God are seuered from the wisedome of the world and brought from heauen and a Bible because many bookes are therein contained The first whereof is Genesis the last the Reuelation The first deuision of the BIBLE THe holy Bible is deuided into the olde and new Testament The olde Testament containeth those bookes which were written before Christ was borne as the bookes of Moses the Psalmes and the Prophets with som other which are in number 48. The new Testament comprehends those bookes which were set foorth after the birth of Christ As the bookes of the Gospelles and the Epistles with others which are in number 27. The 2. Diuision THe holy Bible is diuided into six parts in respect of so much as concerne the difference of the Bookes For some of the bookes of the Bible are Legall Historicall Doctrinall Propheticall Euangelicall and Epistolar 1 The siue bokes of Moses cald c. are Legall because the lawe is specially described in them 2 Historicall are those which simply containe Histories or thinges doone as are the bookes 1 of Iosua 2 of Iudges 3 of Ruth 4 of Kings 5 of Chron. 6 of Ezra 7 of Nehemiah 8 of Tobias 9 of Iudith 10 of Hester 11 of Machabees 12 of The acts of the Apostles 3 Doctrinall are those which containe some speciall doctrine for the edifying of the hearers as are the books 1 of Iob. 2 of Psalms 3 of Prouerbs 4 of Ecclesiast 5 Canticles 6 Wisedome 7 Iesus Sirach 4 Prophetical are those which were preached written by the Prophets wherof 4. are called the greater and the rest are called the lesser Prophets The greater because they write greater and longer bookes the lesser because they write lesser and smaller bookes 5 Euangelicall bookes are they which containe the Euangelicall stories of our Sauiour Christ set forth by the 4. Euangelists 6 Epistolar are the writinges and letters of the Apostles and specially of the apostle Paule The 3. deuision Some books of the Byble are Canonicall Apocrypha Canonicall bookes are those in which is preserued the authority of Ecclesiasticall oppinions Apocrypha or doubtfull bookes are those whose credit is doubted of and serue only for the instruction of the people not for confirming the opinions of the church such are the bookes 1 of Iudith 2 of Wisedome 3 of Tobia 4 of Iesus Sirach 5 of Baruch 6 of Machabees 7 of The fragments in Hest DaÌ„ All the rest are Canonicall bookes otherwise called Authenucall from whence the Canonicall and autenâ—call scripture hath his name and they are Canonicall which reade or expound the holy Scriptures Of the Bookes Legall or the 5. Bookes of Moses THe books of Moses haue their names in Greeke Pentatenchou of the numb of 5. because they are but 5. of the Hebrewes they are called 5. fiftes and they are ascribed to Moses either because Moses wrote them or because they containe the story of Moses in them and they are 5 1 Genesis 2 Exodus 3 Leuiticus 4 Numbers 5 Deuteronomy 1. Of Genesis GEnesis hath his name of begetting or of generation because it is a booke of the generation of the world both for the Creation of things and for the restoring of them after the floud It hath in it 50. Chapters and is diuided into sixe principall partes in regard of the sixe famous persons whose stories are set forth in Genesis 1. Adam is described from chap. 1 to cha 6 2. Noah from the 6 to the 12 3. Abram from the 12 to the 20 4. Isaac from the 20 to the 28 5. Iacob from the 28 to the 37 6. Ioseph from the 37 to the end of the book But Genesis in some containes 1 The Beginning of the world 2 The Deluge 3 The Burning of Sodom 4 The Destruction of Babell 5 The Deeds of the Patriarches 6 The Fall especially of mankind his restoring againe by the blessed seede of the woman that is Iesus Christ 2. Of Exodus EXodus is so called of going out because heere is described the going of the children of Israell out of Egypt as also the conuersion of many in the wildernesse wher the law was published because men knewe not what sinne was For then God gaue to his people the law of the ten commandements and after by Moses ordained Ceremoniall and Iudiciall lawes that Religion and gouernment might bee preserued among the Iewes In all which as in the building of the Tabernacle Christ was shadowed so the law is a schoolmaister vnto Christ The principal deuision of Exodus 1 From the first chap. to the 7 after thâ— description 1. of the birth 2. of the hiding 3. casting into the water 4. adoption 5 slight 6. mariage of Moses God giues 〈◊〉 commandement both of his restoring into Egypt and of his bringing the people oâ— Israell out of Egypt because they were oppressed with a harde bondage by Pharao which coÌ„mandmeÌ„t after long delay he doth execute In the midst of the 4. ch he goeth into Egypt and with his brother Aron goeth vnto K. Pharao reasoneth with him about the letting go of the people which is in the 6 ch 2 From the 7. chap to the 12 are described the ten plagues of Egypt as that 1 of Blood 2 of Frogges 3 of Lice 4 of Flies 5 of Mouen of cartel 6 Blanes 7 Haile 8 Locusts 9 Darknesse 10 death of the 1. born 3 From the 12 cha to the 16 is described the deliuerance of the people of Israell out of Egypt not without puisuing yet by the mightye power of God 4 From the 16 ch to the 20 is described the going forward of gods people thorow the desaâ—t their murmuring and Gods deliuerance with Mâ—nnâ— and Quaâ—les In the 20 chap. the â— commandementes are giuen to Moses 6 From the 21 to 25 Iudicial lawes are ordained 7 From the 25 to 32 are ordained lawes ecclesiastical or ceremoniall concerning the building of the Tabernacle 8 From the 32 chap. to 36 are the tables giuen of the ten commandements 9 From the 36 to the 40 chap is described the building of the Tabernacle 10 In the last chap. hamely in the 40 the erecting of the Tabernacle is described Thus much of the booke of Exodus 3. Of Leuiticus LEuiticus the third book of Moses is named of the tribe of I euy for the Priesthood of Aron which in this book is ordained with the lawes therof is appointed for the purging and eâ—pâ—ation of sin that it might signifie the true priest Christ Iesus the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world For for this cause were the Leuiticall Sacrifices the Leuitical hallowings
AN INTRODVCTION into the Bookes of the Prophets and Apostles Written by Peter Palladius Doctor of Diuinity and Byshop of Rochil Faithfully translated out of Latin into English By Edw. Vaughan LONDON Printed by G. S. for William Holme dwelling vpon Ludgate hil at the signe of the Lambe 1598. To the Right Honorable and vertuous Lady Elizabeth Russel Dowger HAuing duly and dutifully considered the powerfull prouidence of the Almighty I finde of al creatures in the earth that are humble and harmeles his Maiesty hath recommended vnto vs the Lambe to signifie Iesus Christ our Redeemer Of all Creatures in the Ayre that are mylde and chast he hath recommended vnto vs the the Doue to signifie the Holy ghost our sanctifier Euen so right Ho Lady of all bookes that are Authenticall and ancient and of all books that are profitable and true this maiestical Creator hath recommended to our studies for the ground-worke of Religion the book of his Couenant comprehending all things that euer was al things that now is al thinges that euer wil bee to come in heauen coÌ„cerning his Deity in earth coÌ„cerning his elect in hel concerning the damned There was two waights in the holy sanctuary the one called Stater a ballance to weigh all things beloÌ„ging to the common weale the other Siclum a sickle which was to wey al things belonging to the Temple shewing thereby that al things whatsoeuer do apertain either to gods glory or our good are to be mesured proportioned by the same book God said to Moses Take sweet spices pure Mirth Calamos c. then offer wherein also he plainly shewes that al kind of seruing his Maiestie all professions wherby we liue haue our beeing are excluded as things not sanctified according to this book And yet good Ho Lady mistresse I say most wise meÌ„ seeâ— that few do read it fewer regard it fewest of al do frame their liues according vnto it It is as rare a a thing to see noble womeÌ„ men of great place to haue the Bible in their hands to order their coÌ„uersation accordingly as to see a man of plesant possessions sel all he hath and giue it to the poor or to see a Camel go thrugh the eye of a needle By how much the more right Ho are you to be admyred and had as a wonder in this world for your darely endeuours after Diuinity for your knowledge in the holy tongs especially for your careful practise therof at home amongst your houshold and abroad amongest the distressed Saints As the people of the captiuity could not discerne the sound of the shout for ioy from the noyse of the weeping when the foundation of the teÌ„ple was laid euen so the greatnesse of your greese with continual study at home cannot be discerned from the greatnes of then ioy whome yee releeue abroad Your Ho hath constantly continued hitherto proceed I pray you Rule on right Ho good luck haue you good La in the name of the Lord. As the Iewes finished the Temple with weapons in one haÌ„d and nowels in the other hand so I pray god you may finish your faith vnto death with your booke moue hand your aliues in the other I must be forced to cease keeping the limitation of the Printer Only desiring your Ho to accept of this my labor which I offâ—r vnto your La before all others as a token of my humble duty Protesting that I haue to the vttermost of my power truly tâ—anslated the same not inteÌ„ding your Ho. instruction therein though the original be very profitable for the vnderstanding of the Bible but to instruct the ignorant multitude for whose sake I know your Ho wil patronize it The spirit of him that raised up Iesus from the dead sanctifie you and saue you London Ia 20 1597. Your Ho most humbly in the Lord. Edw. Vaughan An Introduction into the Books of the Prophets and Apostles written by Peter Palladius Doctor of Diuinitie and Bishop of Rochil translated out of Latine into English both faithfully and truely To the Reuerent and worthie man for learning and vertue Maister Peter Palladius doctor of Diuinity and Bishop of Rochil Philip Melancthon wisheth al happinesse IT is good for men oftentimes to call to minde those testimonies which eyther do compell them or allure them to consent vnto the doctrine which GOD hath especially deliuered vnto his church and doth perseuer therein of which sort are Myracles Antiquity a kind of doctrine a myraculous preseruation thereof amidst the ruines of Empyres the constancy of confessors and pledge of Gods spirite in the hart In the first place are reckoned Miracles which are wonders done beyond the course of nature for although the whole course of of nature be both a witnes and a warning of God yet when he preferred his doctrine especially that which goeth beyonde the sight of reason he added singuler deedes beyond the course of nature that it might be known not to be deuised by man but set foorth by the guider of nature and a most mightie creator being distinct froÌ„ the opinions of other nations which miracles do boast of certaine of our owne Miracles but there are other Miracles peculier to the church not to be imitated by any creature as raising the dead to stay the course of the sun the going backe of the sun a virgine to be with childe and others such like These God would haue vs to looke vpon that wee mighte bee throughlie perswaded that the doctrine is giuen by the very ruler of nature Among the miracles I also account the prophetes forsayinges of of Empires other affaires which the wisdome of no creature could certainlye forsee for in that the euent hath been aunswearable vnto them we must confesse that those forsayings were manifested by that diuine spirit that knoweth all thinges In the 2. place is antiquitie named which albeit that it doth not conuince as miracles do yet doth it alure the mindes of men for it is likely that God should from the begining haue laide open himselfe and haue been of this mind that amoÌ„gst men there shuld be alwaies some of whom he might be truelye known and not that al mankind as wretched shuld from the begining be made only for eternal destructioÌ„ Therfore comfortable is that former age and well is that spoken by Tertulian Whatsoeuer is most auncient is most true In like maner doth Iustinus and Clemens confute the Ethnickes that seeing the doctrine of the Church is more ancient then the opinions of the Ethnickes the oppinions that do gain-say it are to be reiected that the bookes of Moses are of more antiquitie then the writinges of the heathens the very order of times Empires do make manifest For no Nation hath a certain obseruation of yeeres from the begining as haue the Eclesiastical books the names of the heathens do also shew that the monuments of the former Church are more auncient for
heauinesse If with their speech they mixe fained sighings Crocodiles teares other legerdemaines deuised by Art amongst the which slanders strange positions doe specially increase their authority As Sebastian the Frenchmā reuiled the teachers and called a great volume of the sayings of the prophets apost which in shew seemed not to agre From whence he gathred that we must not iudge after the letter but as the spirit directs And in their Paradoxes they insert thinges to please people inlarge licentiousnesse Some there are which carry about with them the books of Sibils whence they take such Oracles as best befit theyr affections whom they flatter This kind of Idol priest must be taken heed of that rule is firmely to be held Thy word is a lantern vnto my feet And againe To the Lawe and the testimony And againe The Gospel is the power of God vnto saluation to euery one that beleeueth and those deceiuers are not to be harkened vnto which crye out that inspirations must else-where be sought for without thinking of the holy worde The saying of the sonne of God must bee helde fast whoe commandeth to preach repentance forgiuenes of sins in his name To this end let our teaching be applyed that repentance faith prayer and newe obedience may increase in vs by the meditation of Gods word and let god be praised with true duties according to that saying Fight thou a good fight holding fast faith a good conscience For traps may be laide by men by the aduancing of Inspiratiōs as we haue often seene By this meanes as by an inchantment the people discerned of seducers Therfore the sonne is sent to reueale vnto all creatures the secret and vnknown promise of reconciliation and that it beeing heard faith might be wrought in men and God might communicate himself with vs as Paule saieth Faith is by hearing and hearing by the word of God Wherfore these Idol priests of Cibel which withdraw mens mindes from the written word do reproch the son of God and take away both faith and al the exercise of faith If the writinges of the Prophets and Apostles were taken away so that euery hypocrite might lawfully brotch his counterfait Oracles from his inspirations as from his three footed seate howe great furies would ensue We haue seen example heerof in the Tragedies of Munster elswher Wherefore all holye teachers and hearers with al constancy ought to set themselues against these doting deuises Thy purpose and indeuour therefore O Peter I do commend that thou art an incourager of all the godly vnto reading As Paule saith Be conuersant in reading shewing the way to euery book declaring the arguments of them I woulde to God that our youth were accustomed rather to reading godly praier then to cauilles in disputing for when matters are well opened and no kind of false doctrine approoued there should be an end of disputing and it is a most true saying that to playe the Sycophant is too great diligence And whereas by the wisedome of your noble King and the diligence of godly teachers in your kingdom the studies of your youth are so ordered that no liberty to cauill is permitted vnto them You haue wel prouided for the peace of the church and their wits are accustomed to modesty All things though wel deliuered may be weakened if cauels may be regarded as in time past were those of the Pirchonians and the Academicks Therfore Paule doth strictly charge the Phillippians to hold faste the Canon or the rule of the word Now I beseech the Sonne of God our Lords Iesus Christ to keepe and to gouerne the churches in the kingdome of the Danes and in Germany and to make them to abide for euer one in him Farwell cal Feb. 1557. CONCERNING THE Authority of Gods word and holy Scripture THE authority of Gods worde and holy Scripture ought to be so great with all men that no one should doubt thereof but as we looke vp vnto heauen with our eies so should we thinke that the holy Scripture was brought from Heauen and as he that came from heauen is aboue all so the holy Scripture doth far exceed the doctrine and wisedome of man Christ asked the Pharisies of the doctrine of Iohn the Baptist whether it were from heauen or of men signifying that those two kinds of doctrin did greatly differ one from another the which also Christs disputation with Nichodemus maketh plaine Ioh. 3 The word of God is the holy Scripture of the old and new Testament which is called holy that is seuered from all other writings written by the holy Ghost brought from heauen And Christ deuideth the olde Testament into 3. partes in the last of Luke where hee saith that all thinges must be fulfilled whatsoeuer are written of the sonne of man In the 1 part Moses 2 part The Psal 3 part the Prop. The other partes doe belong to these The new Testament comprehends chiefly Gospels and Epistles which are the seals of the Gospell as I Paule thus subscribe thus I seale the Gospell of Matthewe with my bloud I Peter subscribe I Iohn c. The doctrine of the holy scripture is twoe fold The one The Lawe The other The Gospell But the holy Scripture is commended For the Sufficiencie Truth Profit Authority Dignitie Eternitie thereof 1 Christ shewes the sufficiencie thereof when he saith They haue Moses and the Prophets Againe search the scriptures bicause you thinke in them to hane eternall life And Paule Galat. 1 If any man shall teach any other Gospell let him be accurssed Esa 8 To the lawe and Testymonie you shall not adde neither shall you take from it his Deut 8 and in the 12. cha What I command you doe it thou shalt not adde nor diminish any thing 2 The truth of the scripture is proued by the wordes of Christ Iohn 8 Thy worde is truth Ioh. 2 The old and new Testament is true the true light now shineth Num 23 God is not as man that he should lie 3 The profit of the scripture is shewed by Paule Rom 15 Whatsoeuer things are written they are writtē for our learning that thorow patience comfort of the scripture we might haue hope 2 Tim. 3 all scripture in spired of God is profitable to teach c. 4 The authority thereof is in the laste of Luke all thinges must bee fulfilled which are written of me in Moses in the prophets and in the Psal 2 Pet. 1 Prophesie is not giuen by the will of man but holy men haue spoken as they haue beene mooued by the holy Ghost 5 The dignity thereof appeares Esa 55 as heauen is lifted vp from the earth so are my thoughts differing from your thoughts and Christ sayth giue not holy thinges to dogges neither caste yee pearles amongest swine 6 The eternity thereof as the worde of God abideth for euer And in Luke Heauen and earth shall passe but my word shal not passe Ioh. 16
c. And hee teacheth that they are truely blessed of God which are ioyned with God and are vnited vnto him through religion and godlynes and also the lawfull vse of other things In the end hee reckens vp the inconuenience of olde age and the decay of all his strength that draweth nigh to death Therfore let euerie man liue in the feare of God let him faithfully performe his office and let him vse the thinges created of God to the glorie of God The booke of the Canticles THe 3. booke of Sal. whose Title is The Song of songs Salomon hath set foorth many songes to wit 105.3 King 4 but because that this song is more excellent thē the rest and more glorious it is called the song of songs and it contayneth secreete misteries vnder the Metaphors of the bridegrome and the Bride of Christ and of his Church or of all the godly For though the verse be thank of giuing in which thāks are giuen to God because he hath adorned the common weale of Israell with great benefits to wit with a king and priest Yet he shadoweth the kingdome of Christ for whom all men doth giue thanks vnto God that here haue fought a good fight to whom is appointed a crowne of righteousnesse in heauen whiles they are ingrasted with their spouse eternally Because it cannot be deuided into parts since that thorow 8. chap there is a certain perpetual speech between the bridegrome and the bride To conclude this book containeth most excellent and particular matter 1 Concerning the kingdome of God 2 Concerning the Ministery of his word 3 Concerning the variety of the gifts of the holy ghost 4 Concerning the perpetual felicity thorow Christ 5 Concerning the defence or protection of the highest 6 Concerning the Tranquility of the elect 7 Concerning the peace or quietnes of conscience The booke of Wisdome ALthough this booke by the title seemeth to bee Salomons yet it is ascribed to Philo a man most wise learned of the Iewes who was the embassador of the Iewes to the Emperor Caligula againste which tyrannous prince the like vngodly men Philo Iudeus seemeth to haue written this booke that it may wel bee called the Philosophy or the wisdome of Philo. The booke being very conuenient for our time He commendeth the word of God against sauagenesse and tyranny of the wicked who wil not fauour the word of God among their subiects euen as Caligula did interdict his religion among the Iewes But thou shalt obserue that the word of God in this booke is called Wisedome and this booke to be the interpretation of the first commandement whence all wisdome doth flow Furthermore the chapters of this booke are 22. which are thus deuided 1 From the beginning vnto the 6 cha he maketh a comparison betwixt the righteousnes of the godly the cogitations of the wicked 2 Betwixt the goodnesse of the godly and the councell of the wicked 3. Betwixt the simplicity of the godly and the tyranny of the wicked 4. Betwixt the Martyrdome of the faithfull and the vnhappinesse of Insidels 5 Betwixt the constancie reward and felicity of the godly the condemnation of the wicked 2 From the 6 chap vnto the 10 hee layeth downe graue exhortations in which he exhorteth wicked men to embrace wisedom that is to saye with penitency and repentance where he sheweth that wisedome is to be gotten by faithful prayers 3 From the 10 vnto the 16 he commēdeth wisedome by the example of the Patriarches and by the sundry benefites and myracles of God towardes his people and against Idolatry and impiety whose cursse he sets downe with a derision and detesting of them by praising Gods mercy From the 16 chap vnto the ende of the booke againe he compares the righteousnesse and the rewards of the godly with the vnrighteousnesse and punishmentes of the wicked by bringing an example concerning the destruction of the Egyptians So much concerning this booke out of the which many Ecclesiasticall songes are taken out The booke of Iesus the Sonne of Syrach THis book thus far is called Ecclesi that is to say as some men doe interpret an Ecclesiastical discipline much vsed yet not accounted amongst the canonical books It is called by proper name Iesus Syrach frō the author as the preface doth shew he liued almost after all the Prophets in the last part before the comming of Christ in the flesh A godly man and learned but of the schole of the Egyptians comming forth in to light did publishe this booke gathered out of the writing of many learned men The booke is admirable and very necessary and profitable for the vse of the common people where a Citizen or a housholder may learne godlinesse honesty prudence after what sort he must behaue him selfe 1. towardes God 2 towardes Gods word 3 towardes his ministers 4 towardes his parents 5 towardes his wise and Children 6 towardes his owne body 7 towards his seruances 8 towards his possessions 9 towardes his neighbours 10 towardes his friendes and enemies 11 towardes magistrates and lastly towardes al menne◠〈◊〉 This booke may worthily be called a booke of domesticall discipline But seeing that it cannot bee profitablie denided by Chapters because it is not a booke written in parts orderly but gathered out of the bookes of many doctors and heaped vp consusedly euen as Bees do gather their hony out of diuers flowers it is sufficient to shew what it doth containe generally 1 First it containeth prouerbiall sentences and darke similitudes so as in this respect Iesus Syrach seemeth to be a follower or an Imitator of Salomon 2 Furthermore he poureth our and singeth certain excellent prayers and hymnes vnto God 3 It containeth certain peculiar ancient deuine histories of acceptable mē to god 4 Lastly he sheweth with what benefites it pleaseth God most plentifully to blesse his people and what euils he hath heaped vpon the wicked 5 In sum the booke is full of diuine wisedome The books of the Prophets THe prophetical books doe follow there are 16. Prophets of the which there are 4 great and 12 lesser of whome wee haue spoken before The sum of the doctrine of the prophets is this 1. They teach the kingdom of Christ to come 2. They expound the first commandment by many examples and histories 3. They comfort the afflicted consciences threaten the secure and carelesse ones 4. they condemne the Idolatry of the Iews which they call fornication It is Idolatry or spirituall fornication when men do worship the true God not according to the word and commandment of God but according to their owne good opinion as men say looke Iudges 7 17. 3 king 12 Ose 2. for that opinion is inhibited Deut 12. The booke of Esay ESay is the chiefe amongst the proph whose writings are extant next after Dauids For hee is ioyned to Christ not only in faith but also in neernesse of bloud He cals Christ the bud of the lord chap
be gladde and cheerefull In the 3. chap first of all there is a vision concerning Iâ—sua the chiefe Priest for his comfort and the reedifiyng of the Citie Furthermore there are promises made coÌ„cerning Christ which he names the roote or plant in respect of the gospel and faith and a corner stone in regarde of the church In the 4. clâ—ap is discribed the vision of of the golden Candlesticke for the comfort of Zoroâ—â—bel their Captaine and an exhortacion that hee bee not scarred or withdrawne from the building of the Temple by feare of the enemie In the 5 chapt is discribed a double vision that is to say of a flying booke and afterwardes of anâ— pha or measure in the which was shewed by the Angel the comming of false prophets into Iudea In the 6. chapt is described a vision of soure Chariots by the which the kingdome and the gospel of Christ seemed to be shadowed In the 7. and 8. chapt there are sermons and admonitions against the hiporesie of of the Iewes in the choise of dayes and times of their fastes Afterwardes there are sermons of exhortations to builde againe the Temple and last of all consolations concerning the kingdome of Christ In the 9. and 10. chapt there are prophesies concerning the comming of Christ of the humanitie of his kingdome by this that he was made to sit vppon an Asse afterwardes concerning the power of Alexander the great by the which God hath opened the Gates of the world that the king of glory might enter with his holy Gospell In the 11.12 13. ch there are the same prophesies and indeede more grauely coÌ„cerning the Passion of Christ being delyuered into the handes of the Gentiles also the desolation of the Iewes for their incredulitie and of the preaching of the gospel amongest the Gentiles after the pastor was stroken that is to say after the passion of Christ In the last chapter there are yet two prophesies of the which one containes the abrogatioÌ„ of the whole sinagog and the worshipping of the Leuites the other contain the tentations and the victory of yÌ„ church The booke of Malachy MAlachyas hath obtained the name of an Angell amongst the Hebrues He is counted the last among the prophets and the next before Christ whom he soretels to be now at hande and Iohn Baptist vnder the name of Elias to be his fore-runner Whether this Malachias were Esdras as some haue thought it is vncertaine But this is most certaine that he hath many excellent sentences concerning Christ and the Gospell which he cals that pure and perfect sacrifice for the whol world There are 4. chapters therein which are thus to be discerned In the first chapter sometimes he generally reprehendeth the ingratitude of the Iewes At another time more particularly the couetousnesse of the priests The one because they bring those things which are vnpure and nothing worth for sacrifice the other for that they offer vnpure and vnfit thinges to God and by and by euen in the middest of his threatnings he preacheth concerning the kingdome of Christ and of holy offerings that is the Gospell In the 2. chapt he goeth forward to reproue and vehemently to reprehend the priestes warning them of their Office that it is so holy as an angelical name is ascribed vnto him Also he inuayeth more particulerly against them who are acused of their wiues for their euill handling or vsage bringing foorth the exaÌ„ple of Abraham that would not haue them to be hardly vsed In the third chapter hee prophecieth of the fore-runner of Christ and also of both the comminges of Christe to wit in the flesh and to Iudgment Afterwardes hee chideth the Iewes for their ingratitude towardes the Ministers of Christ In the fourth chapter he ioyneth aswell graue as short exhortation to godly men for the true worship and feare of God and also ioy and consolation fore-telling to wicked men Plagues Destructions and therefore let vs obay the diuine admonitions and the true seruing and fearing of the Lorde our God and let vs also looke for the second comming of Christ with a cheerefull minde lifâ—ing vp your handes So much concerning the prophets and of the bookes of the prophets by the which the Doctrine of the new TestameÌ„t is confirmed and the sentences of the prophets are cited sort estimonie aswell by Christ himselfe as also by his Apostles Let the therfore bee recommended vnto vs for most sweet consolations Let vs therefore accompt them worthie of all praise for these sweete consolations The bookes of Machabees THE Bookes of Machabees haue only their name or deriuation of Iudas Machabeus for his excellent actes that are d cscribed in those bookes it is the last florie of all the olde Testament concerning thinges done by the Iewes from the time of Alexander the great vnto Christ when the people of god had neither kings nor prophets amongst them but Princes priestes There were in the olde Testament foure kindes of gouerment in the elect people of God to wit first a most patriarchall power Secondly a Iudicial power Thirdly a kingly power and fourthlie a Pontificall power For all which Christ onely raigneth in the new Testament who first is the father of the world to come Secondly the Iudge of quicke and dead Thirdly the king of kinges Fourthlie the eternall Priest or Byshop Furthermore the bookes of Machabees are reckned amongst the Apochripha books and amongest the Canonicall bookes and amongest other thinges it conteyneth a most true discription of those thinges which Daniel prophesied of in the 12. ch to wit concerning the persecution of the Iewes by Antiochus The First booke is deuided into 5. partes according to the circumstances of persons and in this booke there are 5. persos most famous whose acts are discribed for the most parte after the order of an historie First Mathias 2. Iudas Mac. Thirdly and fourthly Ionathas and Simon the breethren of Iudas Machab fifthly Iohn the sonne of Simon From the first chapter vnto the third the impietie and crueltie of Antiochus is noted whom the scripture cals The root of sinne And there is described the zeale and constancy of Mathias the priest of his sons that it may bee an euerlasting example to the ministers of the word in persecution From the third chap. vnto the ninth are described the valiant actes of Iudas Mach. namely his warres his victories the purification of the Temple the confederacy with the Romanes and the manifolde conflictes with the Gentiles his neighbors and their Princes whom he discomfited either by enforcing them to flee away or by killing them whose names followeth in order 1 Apolonius slaine chap. 3 2 Seron slaine chap. 3 3 Gorgias driuen away chap. 4. 4 Lysias driuen away chap. 4. 5 Timotheus with the Amonits and Galaadites discomfited ch 5 6 The sons of Esau discomfited ch 5 7 Antiochus the younger the leagu-breaker son of Antiochus the tyrant deceased with his captaine Lysias and their