was called Simeon the son of Iohn the fisher Christ did name him Caephas which is Peter Marke 3. he was one of the Apostles and the chiefest for diuerse causes He spake of works after iustification as S. Iames doth he descendeth into the dueties of each degree and to the conuersation of the Gentils It was written vpon the occasion of Siluanus being long with S. Paule and trauelling to Babilon met with S. Peter who deliuered him this Epistle generall The Argument of the second of Peter HE exhorteth all men from day to day and from degree to degree to increase in the works of regeneration to beware of false teachers the state of the last times He thought his death to be at hand wherefore he wrote to the glorie of his maister Christ The Argument of the first of Iohn THis Iohn was one of the foure Euangelists he was the sonne of Zebedeus beloued of Christ he wrote the ReuelatioÌ„ he exhorteth to faith brotherly loue to trie and approue the spirits to auoid false teachers hypocisie and small offences and to decke themselues with godly liuing The Argument of the second of Iohn HEre he handleth mutuall loue the duetie of widowes to beware of false teachers a way to know them he did write especially to a godly widow who with hir children and hir houshold laboured after Christ The Argument of the third of Iohn HE exhorteth his familiar friends and his host Gains to diuerse points of doctrine and to good works thanking God for the great comfort receiued at his hands he commends him for a harberour of Gods people The Argument of Iude. HE was one of the Apostles he instructed the Godly to continue in well doing he shewes the iustice of God against sinners and reuolters as the Angels the Iewes The Argument of the Reuelation THis booke containeth all the doctrine of the prophets concerning Christ which was to be accomplished after his comming the comfort that comes by his death the marriage of the church with the sanctified members the prouidence of God and the force of his word The third Introduction WHat may be said of the other books called Apocrypha you may easely iudge by the consideration of the authours and especially by the matter not consonant with other scriptures The word Apocrypha according to the Aetymologie thereof signifieth a mysterie a matter hid secreat or kept close They are books to be read at home and not in the congregation The first and second of Esdras 1 Esd 7 6. 2 Esd 8 4.5.6 THis Esdras was a Scribe and an expounder of the law when the people went from Babilon vnder the gouernment of Zarobabell in the time of Cirus and Darius Histaspis sonne he was in great report and bare credite among all people Concerning the authoritie of these books the matter it selfe hath no certaine ground especially That in the first of Esd the third and fourth of the three yong mens sentences In the first of Esdras the 4 and 1. the Angell reproued Esdras for his curious searching he was purposed to sorow and fast him selfe to death 2 Esd 10 4. both which things argued an vnperfect spirite in him This and the rest proues the books not fit to be matched with the Canonicall whose spirite was neuer found guiltie of controlment Tobias Tobias liued in the daies of Salmanser and Zenacherib his sonne kings of Assiria and was taken captiue at Niniuie This booke was penned by some godly man not perfectly knowne it was found in the Hebrue Assyrian and Chaldean tongues very antient yet with many blemishes and imperfections In the twelfth and fifteenth it is said That the Angels did present the praiers of the saints which none can do but Iesus Christ himselfe for he is our Aduocate and high sacrificer In the 4 and 10 old Tobias saith that Alms deliuered a man from death which is a matter contrarie to all holy scriptures In the seuenteenth he exhorteth to giue bread for the dead which in deed is a shew of Idolatrie notwithstanding the man is to be taken for godly and religious and his booke so far to be taken for credit as it doth agree with the Canonicall Iudith THis booke seemeth toward the last part to haue been penned after hir death by whome it is vncertaine the storie is in the Hebrue and Chaldean tongues yet not so receiued as the Canonicall because of the sundrie imperfections thereof Cap. 11 6.16 8.1.11 1. She tooke Gods name in vaine she denied the power of God and the authoritie of his Saints yeelding all to Holophernes Nabucadnezer was Emperour of Persia and his seat was at Babilon but not in Niniuie as is here laid downe For these and such like this booke cannot be allowed for sound yet many good things are therein therefore iudge soberlie and charitably Hester THis booke was written by some Graecian not truely knowne it is very friuolous it is annexed vnto the true story of Hester the variety thereof shewes the contrariety Wisdome IT is called in Greeke Panareâ—on that is to say The booke of all vertues Ierome writeth that Philoiudeus enlarged it with great wisdome and learning into Greeke being left before as a remnant or peece by Solomon this Philoiudeus liued in the daies of the Apostles and he embraced christian faith We must graunt that there are many excellent things done and spoken herein the author being eloquent and learned but yet euerie learned and eloquent booke may not be admitted among the saints Read Aug. de doct Christ lib. 2. De ciuitat dei lib. 17 20. Iunius preface in Apocrypha Baruck HE was secretarie to Hieremie This booke is not in the Hebrue but in the Greeke therefore it was not reckoned among the Israelits who were of that language It is not reckoned in the chronicles of the kings of Iudah nor yet accounted among the prophets Susanna IT is not knowne who did write this booke Although hir chastitie be commended yet the matter is not approued northe author canonized Bell and the Dragon THe author is not to be found and the matter is not likely The praier of Manasses HE is the author thereof as it is generally receiued It was in Greeke which did disanull the authoritie thereof among the Hebrues The first and second of Machabees THe first was written in Hebrue in the time of Iohannes Hircanus the sonne of Simon Machabeus It was receiued as a storie but not of credit to be with the books of God The second was in Greeke very friuolous and out of order The third was entituled Simon the high priest penned by all likelihood by Philoiudeus at Alexandria in Greek Mark their authority Iudas Machabeus offered for the dead and praied for them that their sinnes might be pardoned which thing is against all scripture 12 42. c. The sin which he praied for was mortall and not veniall as they say who would haue this booke to be canonicall yet they pray
the sonne of Leui was borne 2430 yeares after the creation when he was full 40 yeares old he was called of God to be the leader of his people Israel by a large measure of Gods spirit he spake of sundrie things which were done 2414 yeares before he was borne and also profoundly of manie other things that should befall the people of Israel euen vnto the birth of Christ He wrote this booke neere about 850 yeares after the floud At Iosephs death it had a kind of ceasing This booke comprehends principally foure rhings 1 Creation by the word which was made flesh 2 Destruction by the ouer-running of waters 3 Multiplication of the world by Noah 4 Election of some as of Abraham Isaake c. The Argument of Exodus the second booke of Moses IT is called of the Hebrues Shemoth which is names but of the Graecians later writers it is called Exodus which signifieth a departing and going of Israel out of Aegypt by coÌ„putation it amounteth neerly to a storie of 405 yeres from the death of Ioseph to the lifting vp of the tabernacle in Siloh this booke comprehends principally three things 1 The Deliuerance of Israel out of Aegypt 2 Their Iourney towards Canaan 3 An Order for the seruing of God The Argument of Leuiticus IT is called in Hebrue Vaicrah but the GraeciaÌ„s later writers Leuiticus because it retaineth a memory of some notable acts which were done froÌ„ the beginning of the second yere after the release from Aegypt vnto the beginning of the eleuenth moneth of the 40 yeare which is in some account thirty yeares and partlie because it debateth of ceremonies and such like which were ended in their time This booke containes foure principall thinges 1 Sundry sorts of ofsrings concerning Christ 2 Ciuill orders for the practise of religion 3 Ciuill orders concerning life and maners 4 Diuerse feasts dedicated for religion The Argument of Numbers THis booke is called of the Hebrues Vaiedâ—bber of the Latines Numeri because in the beginning of it Moses numbred the people Israel by their tribes It continueth the storie from the beginning of the second moneth of the second yeare after the deliuerance of Israel out of Aegypt vnto the beginning of the eleuenth moneth of the forteeth yeare of thirty eight yeares and odde It containeth foure things 1 The mustring of men and orders for the preseruation of the Arke 2 Constitutions and lawes for religion 3 Constitutions and lawes for life and maners 4 Particular lawes for reformation The Argument of Deutronomium THis booke is called in Hebrue Ellehaddebarim in Greeke it is called Deut. signifying a Remembrance of things past with an exhortation to the perfourmance of the law from the beginning of the twelfth moneth of the fourteeth yeare vnto the twelfth day of the same moneth after their departure from Pharaoes kingdome This booke breefly repeats the greatest matters that were spoken and laid downe in the former bookes The Argument of Ioshua HE was called Iesus the Emperour of Israel he ruled them victoriously seuenteene yeares he was borne fiftie and three yeares before their going out of Aegypt he died when he was one hundred and ten yeares old 2570 of the world He and Eleazar the high priest is thought to haue penned this booke It approueth the performance of Gods promises and that he neuer saileth by length of time nor by distance of place to remember his ellect as is shewed vs by Ioshua who did conquer the land of Canaan and deuided it among them euen as the Lord had spoken The land for the fertilitie thereof farre beyond all other lands did represent the kingdome of heauen and in regard of the power therof it might well resemble the kingdome of Antechrist Ioshua the conquerour was a figure of Iesus who subdued all things to himselfe The Argument of Iudges IT is called in Hebrue Sophetim according to the Hebrue Greeke and Latine it is called Iudicium because it conneth the gouernment and religion of Gods people from the death of Ioshua vnto Hely the priest about 299 yeres it is supposed that Samuel is the penner thereof it sheweth how God detesteth ingratitude by the great oppressions which was inflicted vpon the people for the same they were of all people in the world most victoriously possessed of all the ioyes in the world and yet they were a people worse than those whose carcases fell in the wildernesse therefore God appointed tyrants ouer them as their gouernours Here is also a perfect president of pardon vpon repentance for when they cried vnto the Lord he destroyed those tirants and gaue them godly rulers The Argument of Ruth SHe is said to liue when Deborah ruled Israel it is thought that the writer of Iudges is the author of this booke because that the Hebrues doe reckon it with the booke of Iudges hir nation and kindred whence she came doth well approue the calling of the Gentiles by Iesus Christ who was to come lineally euen from hir body This booke doth arme all Christians with patience as with the whole armour of God who in the end will get the fame and report of the world The Argument of the first and second of Samuel 1. Chron. 29.29 THe acts of Dauid are they not written in the booke of Samuel the Seer and in the booke of Nathan the prophet and in the booke of Gad the Seer by which wordes it is plaine that Samuel Nathan and Gad did write these bookes In the first of Samuel is shewed the miserie of the people vnder king Saul which was a token of Gods wrath because they were not content with their estate Saul himselfe is set foorth for an example of vnthankefulnes he was hated of God he was hated of the people he was possessed of a deuil Dauid is made heire apparant to the crowne In the second of Samuel is declared the magnanimitie of Dauid who ouercame all the enemies of Gods people wherin he was a figure of Christ The Argument of the first and second of the kings BOth these are in the Hebrue as one The Authours were these 2. Chron. 19.29 seuerallie a part or potion Nathan Ahiah the Silonite Iddo the Seer Iohn and Semeia The first Booke of Kings sheweth vs the vncertaine state of Gods people in this life as by the example of the people vnder diuerse kings vnto the death of wicked Achab who for a little ioy had great annoy God also plagued them because sinne was fauoured and vertue was discountenanced their kingdome was deuided into two parts presently vpon the death of Salamon the one became open enimie to the other for the space of 350 yeares one kingdome was called the kingdome of Iudah whose seat was at Ierusalem the other was called the kingdome of Israel whose seat was at Samaria the one gaue themselues to serue the true God the other to idols Here also is the perfect genealogie of Christ lineally descending from Dauid The second
The Argument of the Prouerbs Ecclesiastes Canticles 1. King 4.32.11 SAlomon was the writer of these three bookes as appeares by their Titles and maner of writing after his conuersion In the first he teacheth all people the true wisdome in the vsing of Temporall things In the second he teacheth a contempt of all earthly glorie in regard of ioies in the Lord Iesus In the third he sets out the incomprehensible fauor of God towards all such by their marriage in Christ representing a spirituall and an inseperable coniunction vnder metaphors similitudes and comparisons The Argument of Esaie HE was Amos sonne taken of manie for an Euangelist he spake and taught vnder Vziah Ioatham Ahaz Ezechia and Manasses This booke was written by him a little before his death it contains the doctrine of reconciliation more clearely than the rest It is full of reprehensions and consolations the comming of the Messiah is prooued and the vniting of the Iewes and Gentiles The Argument of Ieremie HE was sonne to Helchia the Priest he wrot this booke and prophesied vnder Iosias Ioiachim and Zedechia at that time as Hierusalem was ransacked and the people captiuated whome Ieremie lamenteth Baruck was his secretarie This booke shewes the captiuitie of Hierusalem and hir people for hir manifold sinnes The Argument of Ezechiel HE was a priest in Babylon fiue yeres of Ichoiachims captiuity This booke doth shew the murmuring of the wicked against the Prophets because they yeelded to Nabuchadnezar Therefore in the first part of this booke he laboureth to confirme his former doctrine that they did well in yeelding for it was decreed by the mouth of God that they should be captiuated then he laboureth with doctrine to assure them of deliuerance againe from this their seruitude and captiuitie The Argument of Daniel HE was in Babilon with Ananias Misael Azarius in Iehoiachims time and he thus prophesied vnder Nabuchadnezer Euilmeredec Baltazar In this book is shewed what hapned to their king and the people during the 70 yeares captiuitie what kings raigned how the people were vsed what should be happen them after their captiuitie vntill Christ The Argument of Hosea IN the daies of Osiah Ioathan Ahas Ezechias kings of Iudah he wrote and prphesied This booke shewes the Idolatrie of the people vnder Ieroboam and their sins by many particulars This prophet was amōg them 70 yeres and they despised him and others The Argument of Ioel. HE prophesied in the daies of Osia and Ieroboam concerning Samaria and wrote the same Herin is shewed the famine and extreame misery that they of Iudah endured because of their idolatrie and obstinacie The Argument of Amos. IN the daies of Osiah and Ieroboam he wrote this he was a poore and a simple shepheard stirred vp of speciall purpose to set foorth Gods glorie by calling the people to repent The Argument of Obadiah HE spake against Edom at which time the pallace of the temple and the citie was set on fire this booke shewes how the Idumeans vexed Israel most cruelly and continually in the highest pitch of their pride God sends this Obadiah to denounce his vengeance against them and good successe vpon his owne inheritance The Argument of Ionah HE spake vnder Amaziah and Ieroboam he controled Phulbelocus of Niniuie who succeeded Sardanapalus This booke sheweth how little his preaching auailed in Israel and how much few words preuailed in Niniuie to the shame of all Israell here is the distruction first of the kingdome of Israel then of Iudah chiefly because they contemned the prophets The Argument of Nahum HE prophesied vnder Ezechia king of Iudah Hosea king of Israel and Salmanazer king of the Assyrians This booke shewes the reuolting of Niniuie from the true profession which they had taken from Ionah they became persecuters of all that professed godlinesse therefore their citie was destroied by Nabucadnezer among whom there was some godly whom God remembreth with his comforts sent by the prophets The Argument of Abacuk HE wrote this booke about the same time and he lamenteth the desolation of the godly and the prosperitie of the wicked who in the end should be captiuated by the Chaldeans The Argument of Sophoniah HE prophesied in the daies of Iosiah the sonne of Ammon king of Iudah The Moabits the Assirians and others who were enemies to Gods people shall come themselues to confusion but the godly by patience shall possesse their soules The Argument of Agge THis prophet Zacharie and Malachie were especially appointed after the captiuitie to cōfort the people to set them forward to the building of the temple at Ierusalem which was a sight of the spirituall Ierusalem This prophet shewes the cause of their captiuitie and exhorteth to repentance The Argument of Zacharie THis prophet wrote the second yeare of Darius in the eight moneth the same matter The Argument of Malachie THis prophet was the last and the next to Iohn Babtist He spake of the captiuitie of the building of Salomons temple and the storie of Esdras and Nehemias he reproues diuerse sinnes and speaks as the two former The Argument of Mathew HE wrote this Gospell in Hebrue eight yeares after the ascention of Christ All the foure Euangelists did write in efect one thing they al entitled their writing Gospell signifiing Good tidings or newes from heauen comprehending the incarnation death resurrection and ascention of Christ being the absolute summe of our redemption and adoption to eternall glorie This Title comprehends all the matter shadowed in the law and perfourmed in the gospell whatsoeuer one writes darkly the other more largely and plainly They varie not in any one thing though their writing be farre in distance for time and place which greatly argueth and augmenteth the trueth and dignitie thereof They entreat in some matters more exactly than in other Mathew laboreth to setfoorth an historicall narration of Christs body to weet of his incarnation his kinred how he was occupied in the time of his life teaching and working miracles to confirme the will of his father he spake of his death and resurrection with such circumstances as belong thereunto The Argument of Marke HE was the disciple and interpreter of Peter Vpō earnest request made to him at Roome he wrote this gospell in Greeke ten yeares after the Ascention of Christ He planted the faith at Alexandria where he died The Argument of Luke HE was a phisition at Antioch the follower of S. Paule who did write this gospell 15 yeares after Christs ascention he died at Constantinople This book most chiefly specifieth of ceremonies which were performed in Christ The Argument of Iohn HE was sonne to Zebedeus the brother of Iames whom Herod be headded at the request of some Bishops in Asia He chiefly handleth Christs diuinitie and wonderfull worke of our reconciliation He wrote this gospell 32 yeares after Christs ascention he died and was buried amongst the Ephesians The Argument of the Acts. THe same was written in Greeke
Exercise will be easie The names or aetymologies of the twentie holy fathers of the twelue Patriarchs of the twelue standings or habitations where Israel pitched in their iourney from Aegypt to Canaan You must digest in a writing booke of two quires after the maner of common places one of the same places or titles must be at the vpper end of euerie second leafe in Quarto and be sure to place nothing vnderneath but such matter as the place and title requireth And when you haue so gone ouer and written all your booke then cast it aside and take another after the same order which being also finished compare it with the first and you shall see your selfe much amended in skill Thus doe once more in another booke and then you shall be able readily and roundly to speake artificially and diuinely of all things necessarie to saluation forgetting not the vse and helpes of the introductions aforesaid one quarter of a yeare will profit you more than forty yeares reading after the common and generall order 1 You shall not read any parcell of scripture but you may reduce them to some one of these 2 It will sharpen your conceipt and iudgement 3 It will shew you what place is most principall and necessarie in euerie booke and chapter 4 You shall know what matter belongs to Exhortatiō Reprehension Confirmation Confutation and Consolation 5 You shall know what matter belongs to the first Table and what to the second 6 Your memorie will be staid as in one sight or view wherby you shal haue in a readinesse all things You shall haue a briefe definition or interpretation of euerie one opposite least you take one for another or misse of the sence The names or aetymologies of the first ten Fathers Earthly Vanishing descending subiect to decay corruption Setled Constant vnremoueable persuaded resolute beleeuing determined Sorrowfull Perplexed vexed greeued hating loathing detesting Godly repentance Sorie for sinnes past greeued for displeasing of God and not for any worldly losse or discontentment whatsoeuer Praise God That is to be content in all estates to blesse God to praise him and to thanke him The lowly Not to be puffed vp with worldly conceipts nor to stand vpon our own merits but in humilitie and lowlinesse to expect after Christ The Sabaoth keeper Is he that dedicateth his body and soule to spirituall contemplation and to the sauing of needfull things Long life All gifts temporall and spirituall is signified Heart wounded Molested with the tribulations and miseries of the life The Cōmforter When all worldly helps faileth to the wicked then there is helpe and comfort to the Godly in Christ The names or aetymologies of the second ten Fathers Renowned Famous excellent in good credit with good men and with God Healing This is a close narration of our clensing Healing and restauration Peace Tranquillitie rest ioy and Peace quietnesse and ease Pilgrime When we ascend to God we descend from our selues and from all the pleasures of this life whence we are pilgrimes Deuided In the heat of our iournie to God we are deuided separated and sequestred from father and friends c. to serue God Breaking This shewes the parting the cutting off and disloialtie of the wicked for want of faith and patience Palm-trees As the Palm-tree the more it is pressed the more it springeth euen so the godly c. Angrie or drie The wicked is soon moued to wrath so drie vnfruitfull Wretch The sonne of such a father hardly proueth valiant euer he is wretched High father That is by a new begetting new regeneration to be godly and so in fauour The names or aetymologies of the twelue Patriarches Water Consider the nature of Water is to wash to mollifie to fructifie to drowne or destroie c. all is to one effect and must be vnder one Title Sword Consider the vse thereof Also it is to be taken for Crueltie Jrefull Booke Jt hath relation to Learning to Knowledge Skill Offices c. Lion Vnderstand Courage Valeant Mightie Kingly Victorious c. Adder The qualitie as to sting to hurt to defile to vex c. Hinde Swift speedie flying poasting and such like beast Banner Warriors fighters weapons armour Bread Food apparell and all such things as belong to the backe and to the bellie Asse Slouthfull sluggish and such like beasts Ship Seas-sailing ventring fishes Marchants Fruitful bough Prosperous powerfull encreasing spreading abroad Wolfe Extirping rooting and other beasts of that nature The names or aetymologies of the twelue Standings Worms meat Such are we in nature and in bodily substance Poore Cottages So are our habitations and continuance in this world Hard ground So are our worldly commodities hard and vnprofitable Bitternesse After a little ease and rest we fall into diuers trials Strong harts So God encourageth the weake and wearied seeking him Thornie The cares and pleasures of this life and lets and hinderances Temptation Riches and pleasures are prouocations to sinne Euerlasting temptation Hath the godly and prouocations to sinne Turning away As Cerah and the rest rebelled Declaring or shewing This hath relation to Mountains Shadow of a portion Riches and such like are Portions Of the Father To this you may refer Genealogies kinred or progenies An entrance to the answering of the three questions recited in the beginning of this booke I Haue heard many men of diuers trades callings and professions and some in the parish where I haue cure and charge vsing speeches derogatorie to the credite good estate and prosperous continuance of Lawyers Phisitions and of the Preachers of the word of God the plētie of which three sortes of learned and honest professors are the manifest arguments of Gods most speciall fauor towards his church yet notwithstanding I perceiue they are neither liked nor loued of the ignorant and enuious multitude wherein they do so much as in them lieth abuse the means of their cōfort reiect the graces of God which they daily pray for yet whē they by reason of their vngodly or distemperate behauior are brought to the hazard of their liberties their liuings or their liues then some of them maister and worship the Lawyer Others being but a little sicke post and hast their messengers to the Phisitions then they intreat them and entertaine them with diuers paiments promises And some of them though the smaller number when their wils be made and their soules bequeathed send for the minister vnto whom they then speake faire and crie God mercie I haue beene a sinner Master Parson pray forme or words to like effect I doubt me to small purpose Wherfore these things considered I thinke it not amisse good christian Reader to contriue their questions and my answers Dialogue wise as betweene the Pastor and Parishioner after this maner Parishioner WHat is your opinion and iudgment of Lawyers They are men generally hated and ill reported and as I thinke very iustly for they doe by delaies and shifts in law