Lord make this woman which entereth into thy house as Rachel and Lia which builded the house of Israel that she may be an example of vertue in Ephrata and may haue a famous name in Bethlehem †and that thy house may be as the house of Phares whom Thamar bare to Iudas of the seede which our Lord shal geue thee of this yong woman †Booz therfore tooke Ruth and had her to wife and went in vnto her and our Lord gaue her to conceiue and to beare a sonne †And the wemen said to Noemi Blessed be our Lord which hath not suffered that there should fayle a successor of thy familie that his name should be called in Israel †And thou shouldest haue one that may comfort thy soule and cherish thy old age For of thy daughter in law is he borne which wil loue thee and much better is she to thee then if thou hadst seuen sonnes †And Noemi taking the child put it in her bosome and did the office of a nource and of one that should carie him †And the women her neighbours congratulating her and saying There is a sonne borne to Noemi called his name Obed this is the father of Isai the father of Dauid †These are the generations of Phares Phares begat Esron †Esron begat Aram Aram begat Aminadab †Aminadab begat Nahasson Nahasson begat Salmon †Salmon begat Booz Booz begat Obed †Obed begat Isai Isai begat Dauid THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKES OF KINGES AND PARALIPPOMENON IN GENERAL AFTER the booke of Iudges wherunto Ruth is annexed rightly folow the bookes of Kinges signifying that after the general Iudgement cometh the euerlasting Kingdome As venerable Beda expoundeth this connexion of bookes wherin he also explicateth manie other Mysteries of Christ the Church praefigured in these histories Likewise S. Gregorie teacheth that besides the historical moral sense expressed in the simplicitie of the letter an other mystical vnderstanding is to be sought the height of the Allegorie In confirmation wherof he citeth S. Augustin and S. Hierom who say that Elcana his two wiues signified the Synagogue of the Iewes and the Church of Christ that the death of Heli Saul with translation of Priesthood to Samuel and Sadoch and of the Kingdome to Dauid and his Successors praefigured the new Priesthood and new Kingdome of Christ the old ceasing which were shadowes therof So these two great Doctors S. Gregorie and S. Beda insisting in the steppe of other lerned holie Fathers that had gone before them expound these histories not only historically but also mystically The historie first setteth forth the changing of the forme of gouernment from Iudges to Kinges and then at large what Kinges did reigne ouer the Hebrew people as wel in one intire Realme as ouer the same people diuided into two kingdomes their more principal Actes their good and euil behauiour also the prosperitie declinations and final captiuities of both the Kingdomes Al which is conteined in foure bookes of Kinges with other two partly repeting that was saied before but especially supplying thinges omitted in the whole sacred historie from the beginning of the world called Paralippomenon The two first are also called the Bookes of Samuel though he writ not one of them wholly for he died before the historie of the former ended but they goe both vnder his name because he annointed the two first Kinges and writ a great part of their Actes Wherto the rest was added either by Dauid and Salomon as some thinke or by Nathan and Gad as is probably gathered 1. Paralip 29. v. 29. The authors also of the third and fourth bookes of Kinges and of the two of Paralippomenon are vncertaine yet al haue euer bene receiued and held for Canonical Scripture THE ARGVMENT OF THE FIRST BOOKE OF KINGES THIS first booke may be diuided into foure partes First are recorded the gouernmeÌ„tes of Heli Samuel with the occasions of changing the state of that commonwealth into a Kingdome in the eight first Chapters Secondly the election and gouernment of Saul their first King from the 9. chap. to the 16. Thirdly Dauids annointing his vertues trubles and persecutions from the 16. chap. to the 28. Fourthly the ruine of Saul and exaltation of Dauid in the foure last Chapters THE FIRST BOOKE OF SAMVEL WHICH WE CAL THE FIRST OF KINGES CHAP. I. Elcana hauing two wiues the one called Anna is barren and for the same is reproâ—hed by the other called Phenenna 9. Anna voweth and prayeth for a man child 19. conceiueth and beareth a sonne calleth him Samuel 24. and presenteth him to the seruice of God in Silo. THERE was a man of Ramathaimsophim of mount Ephraim his name Elcana the sonne of Ieroham the sonne of Eliu the sonne of Thohu the sonne of Suph an Ephraite †and he had two wiues the name of one was Anna and the name of the second Phenenna Phenenna had children but Anna had not children †And that man went vp from his citie vpon ordinarie dayes to adore and sacrifice vnto the Lord of hostes in Silo. And there were the two sonnes of Heli Ophni and Phinees priestes of our Lord. †The day came therfore Elcana immolated and gaue to Phenenna his wife to al her sonnes and daughters partes †but to Anna he gaue one part with heauie cheere because he loued Anna. And our Lord had shut her matrice †Her aduersarie also afflicted her and vexed her sore in so much that she vp brayded her that our Lord had shut her matrice †and so did she euerie yeare when the time returned that they went vp to the temple of our Lord and so she prouoked her moreouer she wept and tooke not meat †Elcana therfore her husband said to her Anna why weepest thou and why doest thou not eate and wherfore doest thou afflict thy hart Am not I better to thee then tenne children †And Anna arose after she had eaten and drunke in Silo. And Heli the priest sitting vpon a Stoole before the postes of the house of our Lord †wheras Anna had a heauie hart she praied to our Lord weeping aboundantly †and she vowed a vowe saying O Lord of hostes if regarding thou wilt behold the affliction of thy seruant and wilt be mindeful of me and not forgette thy handmaide and wilt geue vnto thy seruant a man childe I wil geue him to our Lord al the daies of his life the rasour shal not come vpon his head †And it came to passe when she multiplied praiers before our Lord that Heli obserued her mouth †Moreouer Anna spake in her hart and onlie her lippes moued and voice there was not heard at al. Heli therfore thought her to be drunke †and sayd to her How long wilt thou be drunke digest a litle the wyne wherwith thou art wette †Anna answering Not so quoth she my lord for I am an exceding
honoring it 2. Reg. 6. VVho further considering that himself dvvelt in a house of cedar and the Arke of God remained in the tabernacle couered vvith skinnes intended to build a more excellent house for God 2. Reg. 7. But his godlie purpose vvas differred by Gods appointment and his sonne king Salomon builded the famous Temple in Hierusalem 3. Reg. 6. VVhich succeding in place of the Tabernacle ech of them one after the other was the only ordinarie place of Sacrifice The law commanding Leuit. 17. If anie man of the house of Israel kil an oxe or a sheepe or a goate towit for Sacrifice as S. Augustin and other fathers expound it and offer it not at the dore of the tabernacle afterwards at the dore of the Temple he shal be guiltie of bloud as if he had shed bloud and so shal he perish out of the middes of his people Neuertheles vpon occasions and by special reuelation sacrifice was lawfully offered in other places For so in the time of the tabernacle Samuel the prophet offered Sacrifice in Masphath 1 Reg. 7. And the prophet Elias offered Sacrifice without the Temple vvhen he conuinced the false prophetes of Baal 3 Reg. 18. whose fact as S. Augustin noteth the miracle sufficiently shewed to be donne by Gods dispensation And as pecultar places were dedicated so also special times were sanctified and diuers feastes and festiuities partly ordained before as the Sabbath Gen. 2. and Pasch Exod. 12. were confirmed by the Law Exod. 20. 23. and others likevvise instituted Exod. 23. Leuit. 23. Num. 28. 29. and Deut. 16. with proper sacrifices for euerie sort First and most general was the dailie sacrifice of a lambe euerie day twise at morning and euening Exod. 29. which was not properly a feast but a sacred perpetual office in the tabernacle and after in the temple At the rest were festiual dayes in which it was not lawful ordinarily to do seruile worke The first of these was the Sabbath that is the seuenth and last day of euerie weke which is our saturday Kept stil solemnly by the Iewes euen at this time in al places vvhere they dvvel but not by Christians because the old Lavv is abrogaeed and vve kepe the next day which is Sunday holie by institution and tradition of the Church The second Neomenia or new moone in which day they alwaies beganne the moneth and twelue such monethes made a yeare by the course of the moone for by the course of the sunne the yeare conteineth eleuen dayes more which in three yeares make aboue a moneth And so euerie third yeare and sometimes the second for it happened seuen times in nintene yeares had thirtene monethes and was called Annus embolismalis being increased by meanes of those eleuen dayes The third feast was Pasch or Phase first instituted at the parting of the children of Israel out of Aegypt in the ful moone of the first moneth in the spring in which the Paschal lambe was eaten as is prescribed Exod. 12. The fourth feast was Pentecost or first fruites the fiftith day after Pasch when Moyses receiued the Lavv in mount Synai The fifth the feast of Trumpets the first day of the seuenth moneth in grateful memorie that a ramme sticking by the hornes vvas offered in sacrifice by Abraham in place of Isaac The sixth vvas the feast of Expiation the tenth day of the seuenth moneth vvherein solemne fast vvas also prescribed from euening of the ninth day to euening of the tenth for remission of sinnes in general besides particular sacrifices and satisfaction for euerie sinne wherof anie man found himself guiltie The seuenth vvas the feast of Tabernacles seuen dayes together beginning the fiftenth of the seuenth moneth in memorie of Gods special protection vvhen they remained in â—abirnacles fourtie yeares in the desert The eight feast vvas of Assemblie and Collection the next day after the forsaid seuen in commemoration of vnion in the people and peaceable possession in the promised land In this day general collection vvas made for necessarie expences in the publique seruice of God Moreouer the seuenth yeare vvas as a Sabbath of rest Leuit. 25. in vvhich no land vvas plowed no vines pruined nor those fruites gathered that sprong vvithout mans industrie of the earth Againe the fiftith yeare vvas peculiarly made holie and called the Iubiley or ioyful yeare In it al bondmen vvere sette free al inheritances amongst the Israelites being for the time sold or otherwise alienated returned to the former ovvners Besides Sacrifices Sacramentes holie places holie times and manie other sacred things belonging therto there were yet more ceremonial Obseruances commanded by Moyses law as vvel perteyning to the seruice of God in that time as signifying christian life and maners So certaine beastes birdes and fishes were reputed vncleane Leuit. 11. and Gods people forbid to eate them as also that they should not eate anie bloud at al nor fatte Leui. 3. The reason of al which vvas not as though anie creature were il in nature but partly to auoide idolatrie partly to exercise them in obedience and temperance partly for that the same thinges signified vices and corruptions from which Christians especiâ—lly ought to resraine Likewise Leuit. 19 they were commanded not to sovv their fieldes vvith tvvo sortes of seede nor to vveare garmentes wouen of tvvo sortes of stuffe that they might be more distinguished from Infidels by external signes and not only by Circumcision but especially to teach christians to practise simple innocencie to auoid duble deciptful dealing Aâ— vvhich and other preceptes as wel moral as ceremonial and iudicial vvere most strictly coÌ„manded the obseruers blessed rewarded transgressours seuerly threatned vvith great curses Leuit. 20. 26. Deut. 4. 27. 28. and diuers actually punished Exod. 32. three thousand slaine for committing idolatrie Manie swallovved vp in the earth Num. 16. descending quicke into hel manie more burned vvith fire from heauen for making and fauoring Schisme Yea by one meanes other al that vvere aboue twentie yeares of age coming forth of Aegypt except tvvo onlie Iosue Caleb died in the desert for the general murmur of the people Num. 11. 14. 25. 26. Al Israel beaten in battle til one malefactor Achan was discouered punished Ios 7. Al the tribes were punished for suffering publique idolatrie in Dan and Beniamin almost extirpate for not punishing certaine malefactours Iudic. 20. And the vvhole people verie often inuaded sore afflicted for their sinnes as appeareth in the booke of Iudges In particular also diuers were aduanced prospered for their vertues as Iosue Caleb Phinees Samuel Dauid and others Contrariwise Nadab and Abiu priests were miraculously burnt for offering strange â—â—re Leuit 10. One stoned to death for gathering stickes on the sabbath day Num. 15. King Saul deposed for presuming to offer sacrifice not destroying Infidels 1. Reg. 13.
his hand to day and offer what he wil to our Lord. †The princes therfore of the families promised and the nobles of the tribes of Israel the tribunes also and the centurions and the princes of the kinges possessions †And they gaue vnto the workes of the house of our Lord of gold fiue thousand talentes and ten thousand solidos of siluer ten thousand talentes and of brasse eightene thousand talentes of yron also an hundred thousand talentes †And with whomsoeuer were found stones they gaue them into the treasures of the house of our Lord by the hand of Iahiel the Gersonite †And the people reioysed when they promised vowes of their owne accord because they did offer them to our Lord with al their hart yea and Dauid the king reioysed with great ioy †And he blessed our Lord before al the multitude and he sayd Blessed art thou ô Lord the God of Israel our father from eternitie vnto eternitie †Thine ô Lord is the magnificence and might and glorie and victorie to thee is the prayse for al thinges that be in heauen and in the earth are thine thine ô Lord is the kingdom and thou art ouer al princes †Thine are riches and thine is glorie thou hast dominion ouer al in thy hand is power might in thy hand greatenesse and the empire of al thinges †Now therfore our God we confesse to thee and we prayse thy glorious name †Who am I and what is my people that we can promisse thee al these thinges al are thine and thinges that we receiued of thy hand we haue geuen thee †For we are pilgrimes before thee and strangers as al our fathers Our daies are as a shadow vpon the earth and there is noe abyding †Lord our God al this plentie which we haue prepared that a house might be built to thy holie name is of thy hand and al thinges are thine †I know my God that thou prouest the hartes and louest simplicitie wherfore I also in the simplicitie of my hart gladly haue offered al these thinges and thy people which is here found I haue sene with great ioy offer thee donaries †Lord God of Abraham and Isaac and Israel our fathers keepe for euer this wil of their hart and let this mind reinayne al waies to the honour of thee †To Salomon also my sonne geue a perfect hart that he keepe thy commandementes thy testimonies and thy ceremonies and doe al thinges and build the house the expenses whereof I haue prepared †And Dauid commanded the whole assemblie Blesse ye our Lord God And al the assemblie blessed our Lord the God of their fathers and they bowed themselues and adored God and then the king †And they immolated victime to our Lord and they offered holocaustes the day folowing oxen a thousand rammes a thousand lambes a thousand with their libamentes with al rite most abundantly for al Israel †And they did eate and drinke before our Lord in that day with great ioy And they anoynted the second time Salomon the sonne of Dauid And they anoynted him to our Lord for the prince and Sadoc for the high priest †And Salomon sate vpon the throne of our Lord as king for Dauid his father and he pleased al al Israel obeyed him †Yea and al the princes and men of might and al the sonnes of king Dauid gaue their hand and were subiect to Salomon the king †Our Lord therfore magnified Salomon ouer al Israel and gaue him the glorie of akingdom such as no king of Israel had before him †Dauid therfore the sonne of Isai reigned ouer al Israel †And the daies that he reigned ouer Israel were fourtie yeares in Hebron he reigned seuen yeares and in Ierusalem three and thirtie yeares †And he died in a good age ful of daies and riches and glorie And Salomon his sonne reigned for him †But the actes of king Dauid the first and the last are writen in the Booke of Samuel the Seer in the Booke of Nathan the prophete in the Volume of Gad the Seer †and of al his kingdom and strength and of the times that passed vnder him either in Israel or in al the kingdomes of the earth THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON AS the former booke sheweth how after manie generations from the beginning of the world God selecting one special nation for his peculiar people and the same being afterwardes made a kingdome the Scepter therof both by Gods and the peoples election came to Dauid and his sonne Salomon See this booke declareth that first Salomon reigned peaccably ouer the whole kingdom in the nine first chapters Then in the other twentie seuen chapters relateth how the same kingdom was diuided tenne tribes being taken away the historie wherof is but here briefly touched and two only with the title of the kingdom of Iuda were possessed by succession of ninetenne kinges al of Dauids and Salomons issue in royal estate til the captiuitie in Babylon THE SECOND BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON IN HEBREW DIBRE HAIAMIM CHAP. I. Salomon establiâ—hed in the throne offereth a thousand hostes of sacrifice 7. asking wisdome 12. it is geuen him with richesse and temporal glorie which he asked not 14. He prouideth manie chariottes and horsemen SALOMON therfore the sonne of Dauid was strengthened in his kingdom and our Lord was with him and magnified him on high †And Salomon commanded al Israel the tribunes and the centurious and the dukes and iudges of al Israel and the princes of the families †and he went with al the multitude into the Excelse of Gabaon where was the tabernacle of the couenant of our Lord which Moyses the seruant of God made in the wildernesse †For Dauid had brought the Arke of God from Cariathiarim into the place which he had prepared for it and where he had pitcht a tabernacle for it that is in Ierusalem †The altar also of brasse which Beseleel the sonne of Vri the sonne of Hur had made was there before the tabernacle of our Lord which also Salomon sought and al the assemblie †And Salomon went vp to the altar of brasse before the tabernacle of the couenant of our Lord and offered on it a thousand hostes †And behold in that verie night God appeared to him saying Aske what thou wilt that I may geue it thee †And Salomon sayd to God Thou hast done great mercie with my father Dauid and hast made me king for him †Now therfore Lord God be thy word fulfilled which thou hast promised to Dauid my father for thou hast made me king ouer thy people great in number which is so innumerable as the dust of the earth †Geue me wisdom and intelligence that I may come in goe out before thy people for who can worthely iudge this thy people which is so great †And
made S. Peter the rocke therof b. 5. 77. Rodde of Aaron brought forth buddes flowers and fruict a 359. Rome begane to be built about the yeare of the world 3. 71. b. 1089. Romane Monarchie was greater then the former b 792. 1003. Ruth a Moabite prefigured the vocation of Gentiles a 564. She was very commendable for her vertues a 569. A comforte to the Gentiles in that Christ descended from her b 473. S Sabbath daie that is our saturdaie instituted a 7. 216. 250. 307. 430. 756. b 947. Sackcloth worne for penance a 774. 802. 977. 1021. 1042. 1080. b 501. 795. 824. 838. Sacramentes of Circumcision a 65. of hostes for sinne 267. of consecrating Priests 275. of diuers washinges and purifications 288. and manie others in the old Law More in number lesse in effect then the Sacramentes of Christ a 705. Sacramentes of the New law for most part were prefigured in the old Testament a 199. 32. 705. Sacrament of the Eucharist was prefigured a 150. 188. 210. Sacrifice is due to God only as Lord of al creatures a 5. 31. 47. 198. 262. b 424. 842. 993. And to no creature how excellent soeuer a. 15. 219. 528. 705. Sacrifice is the proper office of a Priest a 57. Three kindes of Sacrifices a 262. Sacrifice ordained for three causes a 264. b 581. Diuers for diuers sinnes a. 267. for diuers feastes a 380. with distinct hostes appointed by the Law a 425. Sacrifice in beastes birdes and other thinges mystical a 60. 362. Sacrifice by the Law of Moyses limited to one place a 423. 510. 707. 873. by dispensation in other place s. a 519. 545. 707. 893. And in the new Testament one online Sacrifice in al places of the world b 884. 993. Sacrifices of the old Law to be changed b 69. 98. 884. 993. Sacrifice of the Eucharist perpetual to the end of the world b 280. 544. 885. 993. Sacrilege seuerely punished b. 953. Sacrilegious murther reuenged a 908. Sainctes are to be honoured a 8. 34. 218. 531. 935. b 252. Are lawfully and profitably inuocated a 33â— 245. 710. 1068. 1110. b 503. 541. 575. 697. 778. 987. 996. They may know our thoughtes a 605. 107. b 541. 578. Salathiel the sonne of Iechonias and father of Zorobabel was borne and died in the captiuitie of Babylon a 824. 947. 951. b 865. Salomon signifieth Pacifier was also called Ecclesiastes the Preacher and Idida beloued He writte three bookes b 333. 334. He was also called the Gatherer b 314. Lamuel b 315. He prefigured Christ in diuers respectes a 856. b 131. 166. Salomon deposed Abiather by extraordinarie commission a 692. Salomons saluation is doubtful a 732. 866. b 354. Salt signifieth discretion and was required in euerie sacrifice a 265 361. It maketh ground barren a 537. Saluation dependeth vpon grace and merites a 33. b 267. 994. See workes meritorious Samaria the head cittie of the tenne Tribes a 737. Samaritanes Schismatiques a 734. fel into manie sectes a 744. 798. 941. Samson a Nazareite and a figure of Christ a 545. 553. He did manie strange great thinges a 548. c. He sinned not in killing himself with the Philistimes a 553. c. 941. Samuel of the tribe of Leui prophecied a childe a 574. He annointed Saul King a 590. Also Dauid 604. He appeared after his death a 631. b 441. Sanaballat procured licence for Manasses to build a schismatical temple b 960. 1000. Sapiential bookes teach the way to serue God b 267. Al fiue are Canonical Scripture b 268. Saraias Highpriest slaine in Rebla a 816. b 997. Satisfaction a 32. 270. Sauiour properly perteineth to Christ is also attributed to some men a 128. 521. Saul the first King of the sraelites began wel a 587. 595. He afterwards offended in disobedience and presumption a 596. 602. 837. He was releeued in spiritual afflition by Dauids musique a 704. Of great enuie he hated and persecuted Dauid a 610. In distresse he consulted a Pithon spirite a 629. And in desperate extremitie killed himselfe a 635. Scandal hurteth the weake not the perfect b 233. Schisme and heretical conuenticles must be auoided a 355. 358. 510. 511. 756. 771. 887. 896. 949. b 56. 232. 238. 526. 696. 710. 777. 862. 894. 896. Schismatical Temples in Garizim and in Egypt b 800. 960. 1000. Schoole of paganisme was set vs in Ierusalem by Iason an Apostata b. 955. Scriptures are of most eminent auctoritie a 3. They haue foure senses a 4. Yea many literal senses b 19. 188. Mystical sense is sometimes as certaine as the literal b 8â—1 They are hard to be vnderstood a 3. 16. 22. 46. 115. 435. b. 214. 216. 485. 490. 674. 680. 758. Scriptures seeming contrary are reconciled by tenne rules a 820. They can not in deede be contrary one place to an other ibid. b 293. They are best expounded by the holie Fathers a. 251. b 14. Secresie iustly enioyned or promised bindeth in conscience b 434. Sectes of Panimes Barbarisme Scythisme and Grecisme a. 48. Manie Sectes also of the Schismatical Samaritanes a 798. 941. Innumerable amongst the Grecians b 1000. Sepulchers a 33. 151. 515. Christs sepulcher glorious b. 468. 527. Serpentes most craftie a. 9. Serpent of brasse erected for curing infirmitie a 336. b 366. Afterwards broken in peeces a 799. Seruice of false goddes doth not appease them a 915. Seuen times signifie seuen yeares b. 783. Seuentie two Interpreters of the Hebrew Bible into Greke b 1000 Shamfastnes is sometimes good sometimes vicious b 379. Simon High priest and general captaine b 936. 1003. Simonie committed by Giezi a 770. Sinne entred by enuie of the Diuel a 11. Sinnes before the floud were great in foure respectes a 23. Sinnes of commission and omission a 272. b 820. Sinnes lesse and greater or venial and mortal a 401. 407. b 399. Sinnes of al sortes must be punished a 9. 33. 40. 351. 685. 512. 894. b 65. 95. 188. 345. 413. 459. 535. 557. 569. 576. 591. 631. 719. 817. 888. Sinners for punishment are suffered sometimes to fal into other sinnes a 455. 463. 492. 577. 910. b 389. 572. 679 697. 808. 833. Al sinnes are remissible during this life a 577. 798. 1031. b 65. 188. 328 552. 579. 666. 706. Some sinners are of the Elect and shal be called and iustified b. 8â—1 Sinful people are often vnconstant b. 627. Slouth breedeth contempt in this life and damnation in the next b. 404. Sodome and Gomorrha were destroyed with brimstone a 70. Sonnes of God are the faithful godlie people a 20. Sophonias prophecied the captiuitie of the two tribes b 861. Soules of men are dayly created a 6. b 3â—8 Soules departed may be releeued by Sacrifice and prayers a 33. 202. 637. 711. 995. b 24. 284. 979. 996. Soules sometimes appeare assuming bodies after death a 632. Spartians otherwise called Lacedemonians descended from Abraham b 933. 934. Succession a special proofe of true doctrine b 926. 934. Succession of spiritual Gouernors prooueth their
the people presumed more to do that semed to them selues right or good though it was nought which afterwardes the kinges more restrained and punished The historie of Ruth is regestred in holie Scripture for the genealogie of Dauid and especially of our Sauiour Christ Iudic. 12. :: Noemi perswaded not to idolatre but in sinuated that if Ruth would not returne to her countrie she must also leaue the false goddes And so she answered that she would serue the same true God of Israel :: She had a husband and two sonnes and sufficient prouision but now was bereued of them al. :: The Church vseth this salutation in the holie sacrifice and other diuine office :: Booz doubted not but reward was due to good workes :: Yea a ful reward answeâ—able to Ruâ—h pietie Vvhich must be spiritual and eternal :: The euent shewed that Noemi was inspired by God to geue such direction to Ruth to foretel what Booz would doe :: It was very coÌ„mendable that she loued her first husband and mother in law but more vertue infleing occasion of sinne with young men and seeking to marie according to the law of God with her former husbands kinsman Deut. 25. :: Booz calleth his kinsman brother as Abraham called Lot his brother Gen. 13. being his Nephevv :: See Deut. 25. noting here withal that the penaltie was lesse whch an other kinsman vndertaking the mariage the woman was preueÌ„ted from complayning before the iudge :: Here appeareth the final cause of writting this historie to shew the Genealogie of King Dauid from Iudas the Patriarch of whom Christ should descend so prophecied Gen. 49. and shewed to be performed Mat. 1. qqÌ„ in 1. Reg. c. 1. These histories are also expounded mystically by the ancient Fathers Prologâ— in 1. Reg. li. 17. c. 4. ciuit Ep. ad Paulin. The general contents of al the bookes of Kinges Para lippomenon Samuel writ the first part but vncertaine who writ the rest CoÌ„tents of the first booke diuided into foure partes These bookes are read at Mattins from the feast of the B Trinitie vntil the first sundaie of August The first part Of the gouernments of Heli and Samuel and of changing the state into a kingdome :: This childe being of the tribe of Leui though not of Aarons stock was lawfully vowed to the seruice of the tabernacle by his parentes during his childhood but coming to yeares of discretion he was at his owne electioÌ„ to continew or to depart If he had bene of anie other tribe he must haue bene redemed Leuit. 27. The Canticle at Laudes on wenesday :: Leaue of to praise idoles as ye haue accustomed to doe :: The Church of Gentiles :: The Synagogue of the Iewes S. Aug. li. 17. c. 4. ciniâ— :: Neither Dauid noâ— Salomon much lâ—ssâ— anâ—â— other King possened or â—udged the endes of the taâ—th but â—â—â—â—ts enheritance reacheth to the endes of the earth Psal 2. v. 18. :: Sinnes directly against God and that hinder his seruice are more hardly remitted but none at al aâ—e irremissible before death because during life euerie one may truly repent if he wil and to al true peniteÌ„tes God promisseth remission of sinnes Ezech. 33. :: Gods determination to punish tooke not away their freewil but for their obstinacie he leift them to themselues without his grace and so iustly punished them See S. Aug. li. 5. cont Iulian. c. 3. :: This was fulfilled as in the figure in Samuel not wholly for priesthood stil remained in the line of Aaron as appeareth in Achias Abiathar Sadoc ch 14. 22. 2 Reg. 8. but perfectly in Christ 1. Reg. c. 2. :: Rare thinges are called precious and so the gift of prophecie is here termed which was then granted to few :: This vision happened early in the morning before the time of dressing the lampes when some were put out and others light :: Their confidence of helpe from God by presence of the arke was good and commendable but their sinnes deserued to be punished :: This zele of religion in Heli towards the arke is a great signe that he died in good state though he was temporally punished for not correcting his sonnes :: So sowne as Christs Gospel or Testament came among the Gentiles al false goddes idolatry fel downe S. Beda qq in 1. Reg. c. 3. :: The arke being a holie thing as Reliques are was terrible to their false god the diuel so the Reliques of S. Babilas ouerthrew the false god Apollo as â— Chrysoâ—â— testifieth at large li. cont Gentiles 〈◊〉 5. :: Obstinate sinners doe harden their owne hartes not God but by suffering them so to do â—ee Aâ—not â—â—â—d 7. :: As the arke was terrible to the infideles chap. 5. so also to those that beleued right but vsed it not reuerently :: These men knowing that the presence of the arke was good for them though the Bethsamites had benne punished for their irreuerence towardes it feared not to receiue and kepe it :: That is 〈…〉 say the Phili 〈…〉 who were 〈…〉 oâ— the seuen nations of Chanaan which God commâ—nded his people to destroy 〈…〉 the Amorrheites :: Heli his sonnes gâ—ieuously offending in then office before chap 2. and now Samuels sonnes also peruerting iudgemâ—t gaue occasion to the people to demand a lâ—ng to iudge their temporal causes rightly not declining to wrong for bribes :: Misphat signifieth maner fashion or proceding :: God alwaies heareth those that truly repent for their sinnes but doth not alwayes deliuer them from afflictions which are due for offences or profitable for probation and merite of his children â—â—od 19. Deut. 17. Iudiâ— 2. v. 16. Vvhy the peoples demand to haue a king is disliked Kinges sometimes oppresse their subiectes by Gods sufferance but vniustly â— Cyp. li. 3. ep 9. siue 65. â— Hierâ— in Osee 8. â— Greg. li. 4. c. 2. in 1. Reg. 8. Kinges haue prerogatiues aboue but not contâ—aric to the lawes Euil princes may be deposed by God the Church but not by the people only Concil Lateran c. 3. de heret Pointes obserued in the constitution and deposition of King Saul 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. The second part The election annointing gouernement of King Saul :: One that by diuine inspiration foreseeth thinges too come :: Oppression of innocentes crieth to heaven :: â— Gregorie here noteth that such as are placed in height of gouernement are annointed with oyle which signifieth mercie light and cuâ—ing of others :: But the litle vessel foreshewed that Saul not perseuering in grace should be deposed from his kingdom li. 4 c. 5. in 1. Reg. 10. :: Samuel enioynetâ— obedience to Saul to trie his humilitie S. Greg. li. 4 c. 5. in 1 Reg 10. :: God gaue him peculiar grace for executing the office of a king :: By and by also the gift of prophecie :: Then superious :: By lotte the people were assured that the election was of God
him bread to eate and water to drink †and also a peece of a masse of drie figges and two bunches of resinnes Who when he had eaten his spirite returned and he was refreshed for he had not eaten bread nor drunken water three daies and three nightes †Dauid therefore sayd to him Whose art thou or whence and whither goest thou who sayd I am a yong man of Aegypt the seruant of an Amalacite and my maister hath leift me because I began to be sicke three daies agone †For we brake forth at the south side of Cerethi and against Iuda and at the south of Caleb and burnt Siceleg with fire †And Dauid sayd to him Canst thou bring me to this companie Who sayd Sweare to me by God that thou wilt not kil me nor deliuer me into the handes of my lord and I wil bring thee to this companie And Dauid sware to him †Who when he had brought them behold they sate vpon the face of al the earth eating and drinking and as it were keping festiual day for al the praye and spoiles which they had taken out of the Land of the Philistijms and out of the Land of Iuda †And Dauid stroke them from euening vntil the euening of the next day and there escaped not anie of them but foure hundred yong men which had gotten vpon camels and were fled †Dauid therefore reskewed al thinges that the Amalecites had taken and he reskewed his two wiues †Neither was there anie wanting from litle to great as wel of their sonnes as of their daughters and of the spoiles and what thinges soeuer they had taken Dauid brought al againe †And he tooke al the flockes heardes and draue them before his face and they sayd This is the praye of Dauid †And Dauid came to the two hundred men which being wearie had staied neither were able to folow Dauid and he had bidden them to rest in the Torrent Besor who came forth to meete Dauid and the people that were with him And Dauid coming to the people saluted them peaceably †And euerie naughtie and wicked felow of the men that had gone with Dauid answering sayd Because they came not with vs we wil not geue them anie thing of the praye which we haue recouered but let their wife and children suffice euerie man whom when they haue receiued let them depart †But Dauid sayd You shal not doe so my brethren of these thinges which our Lord hath deliuered to vs and hath kept vs and hath geuen the theeues that were broken out against vs into our handes †neither shal anic man heare you vpon this talke For there shal be equal portion of him that went downe into battel and of him that abode at the baggage they shal diuide alike †And this hath beene downe from that day and euer after it was decreed and ordained as a law in Israel †Dauid therefore came into Siceleg and sent giftes of the praye to the ancientes of Iuda his neighboures saying Take a benediction of the praye of our Lords enemies †To them that were in Bethel and that were in Ramoth toward the South and them that were in Gether †and them in Aroer and them in Sephamoth and them in Esthamo †and them in Rachal and them in the cities of Ierameel and them in the cities of Semi †and them in Harama and them in the lake of Asan and them in Athach †and them in Hebron and to the rest that were in those places in the which Dauid had taried and his men CHAP. XXXI Saul with his sonnes are slaine in battel 7. The Philistijms possesse the place and hang the dead bodies on a wal 11. but valiant men of Iabes Galaad take them away and burne them burie their bones and fast seuen dayes AND the Philistijms fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled before the face of the Philistijms and fel being slaine in mount Gelboe †And the Philistijms fel vpon Saul and vpon his sonnes and they stroke Ionathas and Abinadab and Melchisua the sonnes of Saul †and the whole weight of the battel was turned vpon Saul and the archers ouertooke him and he was sore wounded of the archers †And Saul sayd to his esquier Drawe out thy sword and strike me lest perhaps these vncircumcised come and kil me mocking me And his esquier would not for he was frighted with exceding feare Saul therefore caught his sword and fel vpon it †Which when his esquier had seene to wit that Saul was dead himselfe also fel vpon his sword and died with him †Saul therefore died and his three sonnes his esquier and al his men in that day together †And the children of Israel that were beyond the valley and beyond Iordan seing that the men of Israel were fled and that Saul was dead and his sonnes they left their cities and fled and the Philistijms came and dwelt there †And when the next day was come the Philistijms came to spoile them that were slaine and they found Saul and his three sonnes lying in mount Gelboe †And they did cut of Saules head and spoiled him of his armour and sent into the land of the Philistians round about that it should be declared in the temple of their Idols and among their people †And they did put his armour in the temple of Astaroth but his bodie they hung on the wal of Bethsam †Which when the inhabiters of Iabes Galaad had heard whatsoeuer the Philistijms had done to Saul †al the most valiant men arose walked al the night and tooke the bodie of Saul and the bodies of his sonnes from the wal of Bethsam and they came to Iabes Galaad and burnt them there †and they tooke their bones and buried them in the wood of Iabes and fasted seuen daies THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE OF KINGES BESIDES a great part of the first booke and beginning of the third this second booke is wholly of King Dauid VVhos 's manie laudable Actes as also his faultes which were fewer with his true repentance and punishment are related not in such method as may easily be diuided into distinct partes in order of the chapters but according to the distinction of thinges conteined his succession to the royal crowne first in Iuda and after in al Israel with the declination and death of his competitour Isboseth are recorded in the 2. 3. 4. and 5. chapters His vertues and praises to wit his solemne mourning for Saul and that familie his deuotion fortitude pietie and gratitude are specially touched in the 1. 6 7. 8. 9. and 10. chapters His sinnes of adulterie with Bethsabee of killing her husband Vrias of pride in numbering his people with his hartie repentance and temporal punishment for the same are written from the 11. chapter to the 21 together with the 24. The 22. and 23. chapters
the number of the description of the people to the king and there were found of Israel eight hundred thousand strong men that could drawe sword and of Iuda fiue hundred thousand fighting men †But Dauids hart strooke him after the people was numbred and Dauid sayd to our Lord I haue sinned very much in this fact but I pray thee Lord to transferre the iniquitie of thy seruant because I haue done exceding folishly †Dauid therfore arose in the morning and the word of our Lord was made to Gad the prophete and Seer of Dauid saying †Goe and speake to Dauid Thus sayth our Lord Choyse is geuen thee of three thinges choose one of them which thou wilt that I may do it to thee †And when Gad was come to Dauid he told him saying Either famine shal come to thee seuen yeares in thy land or three monethes thou shalt flee thy aduersaries and they shal pursew thee or certes three dayes the pestilence shal be in thy land Now therfore deliberate and see what word I shal answer to him that sent me †And Dauid sayd to Gad I am distressed excedingly but it is better that I fal into the handes of our Lord for his mercies be manie then into the handes of men †And our Lord sent the pestilence in Israel from morning vnto the time appoynted and there died of the people from Dan to Bersabee seuentie thousand men †And when the Angel of Our Lord had stretched forth his hand ouer Ierusalem to destroy it our Lord had pitie vpon the affliction and sayd to the Angel that stroke the people It is sufficient now hold thy hand and the Angel of our Lord was beside the floore of Areuna the Iebuseite †And Dauid sayd to our Lord when he saw the Angel striking the people I am he that haue sinned I haue done wickedly these that are the sheepe what haue they done let thy hand I beseche thee be turned agaynst me and agaynst my fathers house †And Gad came to Dauid in that day and sayd to him Goe vp and build an altar to our Lord in the â—â—oore of Areuna the Iebuseite †And Dauid went vp according to the word of Gad which our Lord had coÌ„manded him †And Areuna looking perceiued the king and his seruantes to come towards him †And going forth he adored the king with his face bowing to the earth and sayd What is the cause that my lord the king cometh to his seruant To whom Dauid sayd That I may bye of thee the floore and build an altar to our Lord and the slaughter may cease which rageth among the people †And Areuna sayd to Dauid Let my lord the king take and offer as it pleaseth him thou hast the oxen for holocauste and the wayne and the yokes of the oxen for prouision of wood †Areuna gaue al thinges to the king and Areuna sayd to the king The Lord thy God receiue thy vowe †To whom the king answering sayd Not so as thou wilt but I wil bye it of thee at a price and I wil not offer to our Lord my God holocaustes geuen gratis Dauid therfore bought the floore and the oxen for fiftie sicles of siluer †and Dauid built there an altar to our Lord offered holocaustes and pacifiques and our Lord became merciful to the land and the plague was stayed from Israel THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE OF KINGES VVITH commemoration of king Dauids old age of his appointing a successour and of his death in the first and part of the second chapters this booke conteyneth two other principal partes the former is of king Salomon of his entrance to the kingdom his deuotion wisdom magnificence richesse great familie building of the Temple and other sumptuous palaces of his fal also into luxurie and idolatrie in the rest of the second chapter to the end of the eleuenth The other part sheweth the diuision of the kingdom onlie two tribes remayning to Roboam Salomons sonne with title of king of Iuda and tenne passing to Ieroboam his seruant called king of Israel So folow the seueral reignes of Abias Asa and Iosaphat kinges of Iuda and of Madab Baasa Ela Zambri Amri Achab with Iezabel and Ochosias kinges of Israel with the preaching miracles and other actes of Abias Elias Eliseus and other prophetes in the other eleuen chapters THE THIRD BOOKE OF KINGES ACCORDING TO THE HEBREWES THE FIRST OF MALACHIM CHAP. I. King Dauid waxing old Abisag a Sunamite is brought to him 5. Adonias pretending to reigne 11. Nathan and Bethâ—abee obtaine 28. that Salomon is declared and annointed King 41. VVherupon Adonias his folowers parting to their houses 50. fleeth to the altar in the tabernacle but vpon promise of safeâ—â—â— doth homage to Salomon AND king Dauid was old and had manie daies of age and when he was couered with clothes he was not warmed †His seruantes therfore sayd to him Let vs seeke for our lord the king a yong woman a virgin and let her stand before the king and cherishe him and sleepe in his bosome and warme our lord the king †They sought therfore a beautiful yong woman in al the costes of Israel and they found Abisag a Sunamite and brought her to the king †And the damsel was exceding beautiful and she slept with the king and serued him but the king did not know her †And Adonias the sonne of Haggith was eleuated saying I wil reigne And he made him self chariotes and horsemen and fiftie men that should runne before him †Neither did his father controwle him at any time saying Why didst thou this And he also was very beautiful the second borne after Absalom †And he had talke with Ioab the sonne of Saruia with Abiathar the priest who furthered Adonias side †But Sadoc the priest and Banaias the sonne of Ioiada and Nathan the prophet and Semei and Rei and the strength of Dauids armie was not with Adonias †Adonias therfore hauing immolated rammes and calues and al satte beastes beside the Stone zoheleth which was nigh to the Fountaine Rogel called al his brethren the sonnes of the king and al the men of Iuda the seruantes of the king †But Nathan the prophet and Banaias and al the strong ones and Salomon his brother he called not †Nathan therfore sayd to Bethsabee the mother of Salomon Hast thou not heard that Adonias the sonne of Haggith hath reigned and our lord Dauid is ignorant therof †Now therfore come take counsel of me and saue thy life and thy sonne Salomons †Goe and enter in to king Dauid and say to him Didst not thou my lord king sweare to me thy handmayd saying Salomon thy sonne shal reigne after me and he shal sitte in my throne Why then reigneth Adonias †And whiles thou art yet speaking there with the king I wil come after thee and make vp thy wordes â€
Whom Nabuzardan the General of the armie taking brought them to the king of Babylon into Reblatha †And the king of Babylon stroke them and â—lew them in Reblatha in the land of Emath and Iuda was transported out of their land †And he made Godolias the sonne of Ahicam the sonne of Saphan Gouernour ouer the people that was leift in the land of Iuda which Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon had leift †Which when al the captaynes of the souldiars had heard they and the men that were with them to witte that the king of Babylon had appoynted Godolias there came to Godolias into Masp a 〈◊〉 the sonne of Mathanias and Iohanan the sonne of Câ—ée and the Saraia the sonne of Thanehumeth a Netophathiâ—e and Iezonias the sonne of Maachathi they and their felowes †And Godolias sware to them and to their companions saying Be not afrayd to serue the Caldees tarie in the countrie and serue the king of Babylon and it shal be wel with you †But it came to passe in the seuenth moneth there came Ismahel the sonne of Nathanias the sonne of Elisama of the kinges seede and ten men with him and stroke Godolias who also died yea the Iewes also the Chaldees that were with him in Maspha †And al the people rysing vp from litle to great the captaynes of the souldiars came into Aegypt fearing the Caldees †But it came to passe in the seuen and thirteth yeare of the Transmigration of Ioachin the king of Iuda in the twelfth moneth the seuen and twenteth day of the moneth Euilmerodach the king of Babylon in the yeare that he began to reigne lifted vp the head of Ioachin the king of Iuda out of prison †And he spake vnto him courteously and he sette his throne aboue the throne of the kinges that were with him in Babylon †And he changed his garmentes which he had in the prison and he did eate bread alwayes in his sight al the dayes of his life †A certayne prouision also he appointed for him without intermission which was also geuen him of the king day by day al the daies of his life THE ARGVMENT OF PARALIPOMENON PARALIPOMENON that is A supplement of thinges ommitted called by the Hebrewes Dibre haiamim The wordes of the dayes or Chronicle is an Abridgement briefly shewing besides diuers other genealogies from the beginning of the world the faith and religion both of the progenitors and ofspiring of the Patriarch Iacob whose progenie God chose and made his peculiar people and in that nation more particularly recounting the Actes of king Dauid and other kinges of his line til they were led captiue into Babylon A booke of such and so great importance sayeth S. Hierom. as whosoeuer without it arrogateth the knowledge of Scriptures may mocke himselfe The author is vncertaine but probably it semeth to be gathered by Esdras out of other bookes and traditions for the perfecting of the old Testament and is vndoubtedly canonical Scripture In hebrew it is al one booke but being large is with the Greekes and Latines parted into two And the first booke may be diuided into three principal partes The first nine chapters conteyne diuers genealogies first by the only right line from Adam to Noe then by diuers lines of Noes progenie but most specially of Iacobs twelue sonnes In the tenth chapter the reiection and death of king Saul is repeted The other ninetene chapters are al of Dauid to wit of his election to be king and inunction his vertues his faultes also and his special actes concerning Gods seruice gouernment of the people and prouision made for building Gods Temple THE FIRST BOOKE OF PARALIPOMENON IN HEBREW DIBRE HAIAMIM CHAP. I. The genealogie of Adam in the right line to Noe and his three sonnes Sem Cham and Iaphet 5. The generations of Iaphet 8. of Cham 17. and of Sem. 24. The right line of Sem to Abraham 26. Abrahams generations by the line of Ismael 32. by the sonnes of Cetura 34. and by the line of Isaac and his sonne Esau 43. with their kinges 51. and dukes ADAM Seth Enos †Cainan Malaleel lared †Henoch Mathusale Lamech †Noe Sem Cham and Iapheth †The sonnes of Iapheth Gomer and Magog Madai and Iauan Thubal Mosoch Thrias †Moreouer the sonnes of Gomer Ascenez and Riphath and Thogorma †And the sonnes of Iauan Elisa and Tharsis Cethim and Dodanim †The sonnes of Cham Chus and Mesraim and Phut Chanaan †And the sonnes of Chus Saba and Heuila Sabatha Regma and Sabathaca Moreouer the sonnes of Regma Saba and Dadan †And Chus begat Nemrod this begane to be mightie in the earth †But Mesraim begat Ludim and Anamim and Laabim Nephtuim †Phetrusim also and Casluim from whom came Philisthijm Caphthorim †But Chanaan begat Sidon his first-borne the Hetheite also †and the Iebuseite and the Amorrheite the Gergeseite †the Heueite and the Araceite and the Sineite †The Aradium also and the Samareite and the Hamatheite †The sonnes of Sem Aelam and Assur and Arphaxad Lud and Aram and Hus and Hul and Gether and Mosoch †And Arphaxad begat Sale who also begat Heber †Moreouer to Heber were borne two sonnes the name of one was Phaleg because in his daies the earth was diuided and the name of his brother Iectan †And Iectan begat Elmodad and Saleph Asarmoth and Iare †Adoram also and Vsal and Decla †Hebal also and Abimael and Saba moreouer †also Ophir and Heuila and Iobab Al these are the sonnes of Iactan †Sem Arphaxad Sale †Heber Phaleg Ragau †Serug Nachor Thare †Abram this is Abraham †And the sonnes of Abraham Isaac Ismael †And these are the generations of them The firstbegoten of Ismael Nabaioth and Cedar and Adbeel and Mabsam †and Masma and Duma Massa Hadad and Thema †Ietur Naphis Cedma. these are the sonnes of Ismahel †And the sonnes of Cetura Abrahams concubine which she bare Zamran Iecsan Madan Madian Iesboc and Sue Moreouer the sonnes of Iecsan Saba and Dadan And the sonnes of Dadan Assurim and Latussim and Laomim †And the sonnes of Madian Epha and Epher and Henoch and Abida and Eldaa Al these the sonnes of Cetura †And Abraham begat Isaac whose sonnes were Esau Israel †The sonnes of Esau Eliphaz Rahuel Iehus Ihelom and Core †The sonnes of Eliphaz Theman Omar Sephi Gathan Cenez Thamna Amalec †The sonnes of Rahuel Nahath Zara Samma Meza †The sonnes of Seir Lotan Sobal Sebeon Ana Dison Eser Disan †The sonnes of Lotan Hori Homam And the sister of Lotan was Thamna †The sonnes of Sobal Alian and Manahath and Ebal Sephi Onam The sonnes of Sebeon Ais Ana. The sonnes of Ana Dison †The sonnes of Dison Hamram and Eseban and Iethran and Charan †The sonnes of Eser Balaan
of Israel should bring it in into the tabernacle of testimonie †For the most impious Athalia and her children haue destroyed the house of God and of al thinges that had bene sanctified in the temple of our Lord they adorned the temple of Baalim †The king therfore commanded and they made a chest and set it by the gate of our Lord on the out side †And it was proclaymed in Iuda and Ierusalem that euery man should bring the price to our Lord which Moyses the seruant of God appoynted ouer al Israel in the desert †And al the princes reioysed and al the people and going in they contributed into the chest of our Lord and cast in so that it was filled †And when it was time that they should bring the chest before the king by the handes of Leuites for they saw much money the kinges Scribe went in and he whom the high priest had appoynted they powred out the money that was in the chest recaried it to his place and so did they from day to day and there was gathered infinite money †Which the king and Ioiada gaue to them that ouersaw the workes of the house of our Lord but they hired with it hewers of stones and artificers of al workes to repayre the house of our Lord smithes also of yron and brasse that that which began to fal might be vpholden †And they that wrought did industriously and the breach of the walles was closed by their handes and they raysed the house of our Lord into the old state and made it stand firmely †And when they had accomplished al the workes they brought the rest of the money before the king and Ioiada of the which were made vessels of the temple to the ministerie and for holocaustes phials also and other vessels of gold and siluer and holocaustes were offered in the house of our Lord continually al the daies of Ioiada †But Ioiada became old being ful of dayes and died when he was an hundred and thirtie yeares old †And they buried him in the citie of Dauid with the kinges because he had done good with Israel and with his house †And after that Ioiada was dead the princes of Iuda went in and adored the king who being altered by their seruiceablenesse agreed to them †And they forsooke the temple of our Lord the God of their fathers and serued groues and sculptilles and there came wrath agaynst Iuda and Ierusalem for this sinne †And he sent them prophetes that they should returne to our Lord whom protesting they would not heare †The spirit of God therfore inuested Zacharias the sonne of Ioiada the Priest he stood in the sight of the people and sayd to them Thus sayth our Lord God Why transgresse you the precept of our Lord which thing shal not profit you haue forsaken our Lord that he should forsake you †Who being gathered agaynst him they threw stones according to the kinges commandement in the court of the house of our Lord. †And Ioas the king did not remember the mercie that Ioiada his father had done with him but he killed his sonne Who when he died sayd Our Lord see and require it †And when a yeare was come about the armie of Syria came vp against him it came into Iuda Ierusalem slewe al the princes of the people and al the pray they sent to the king into Damascus †And wheras there was come a very smal number of the Syrians our Lord deliuered into their handes an infinit multitude for that they had forsaken our Lord the God of their fathers on Ioas also they exercised ignomious iudgementes †And departing they left him in great diseases and his seruantes rose agaynst him for reuenge of the bloud of the sonne of Ioiada the priest they slewe him in his bed he dyed and they buried him in the Citie of Dauid but not in the kinges sepulchres †And there conspired against him Zabad the sonne of Semmaath an Ammonitesse Iozabad the sonne of Semarith a Moabitesse †Moreouer his children and the summe of money which was gathered vnder him the repayring of the house of God are writen more diligently in the Booke of kinges and Amasias his sonne reigned for him CHAP. XXV Amasias killeth those that slew his father 5. Besides his owne people hyreth souldiars of Israel but by aduise of a Prophete dismisseth them 11. and with his owne owerthroweth the Idumeans whose idols taken in battel 13. the dismissed souldiars in the meane time spoyling his countrie he adoreth 15. Contemning admonition 17. and prouoking the king of Israel to warre 22. is taken in battel and spoyled 27. Fearing treason in Ierusalem fleeth and is slaine in Lachis FIVE and twentie yeares old was Amasias when he began to reigne and he reigned nine and twentie yeares in Ierusalem the name of his mother was Ioaden of Ierusalem †And he did good in the sight of our Lord but yet not in a perfect hart †And when he saw his kingdom strengthned he put to death the seruantes that had slayne the king his father †but their children he slew not as it is writen in the Booke of the law of Moyses where our Lord commanded saying The fathers shal not be slayne for the children nor the children for their fathers but euerie one shal die in his owne sinne †Amasias therfore gathered together Iuda and appoynted them by families and tribunes and centurions in al Iuda and Beniamin and he numbred from twentie yeares vpward and found three hundred thousand of yong men that went forth to battel and held speare and shielde †He hyred also for wages of Israel an hundred thousand strong men for an hundred talentes of siluer †But a man of God came to him and sayd O king let not the host of Israel goe forth with thee for our Lord is not with Israel and al the children of Ephraim †and if thou thinke that battels consist in the force of an armie God wil make thee to be ouercome of the enemies for it perteyneth to God both to helpe and to put to flight †And Amasias sayd to the man of God What shal become then of the hundred talentes which I haue geuen the souldiars of Israel And the man of God answered him Our Lord hath wherby he is able to geue thee much more then this †Amasias therfore seperated the host that came to him out of Ephraim that they should returne into their place but they being wrath excedingly agaynst Iuda returned into their countrie †Moreouer Amasias brought forth his people confidently and went into the Vale of salt pittes and stroke the children of Seir ten thousand †And other ten thousand men did the children of Iuda take and bring to the steepe of a certaine rocke and cast them down headlong from the toppe who burst in sunder euerie one †But
tried by the losse of al his goodes children and was proued to be very patient He was then most greuously tormented in bodie being left without comforth albeit he lamentably bewa led so great extremitie wishing such dayes had bene preuented yet he neither spoke against God nor good man nor his owne soule according to truth auouched defended his owne innocencie And at last by Gods inspiration and swete consolation he reâ—reâ—eâ—ded himself of former imperfections vttered in some wordes and with ful resignation to Gods wil susteyned al his losses and paynes not only with contentment but also with ioy THE END OF THE FIRST TOME TO THE CVRTEOVS READER We haue already found some faultes escaped in printing but fearing there be more and the whole volume being ouerlong to be examined agayne we pray the curteous reader to pardon al and amend them as they occurre Two Tables one of the times of the old Testament an other of the principal matters in the Annotations therof shalfolow God willing with the other Tome which we desire and hope to send you shortly In the meane time the gentle reader may please to supplie the want therof as he may by the Recapitulations of the Historie and pointes of Religion in the fiue first ages already conteyned in this Volume in their proper places in the pages 29. 47 196. 701. and 934. You may please to amend the more especial errors happened in printing by reading thus Page 57. line 29. SALEM Pa. 305. in the margent much more in the Church of Christ Page 846 lin 39. reioyce that Pege 1064 line 39 line 40. how they escape many miseries which are neuer borne birth Page 1069 line 1. nor I gainsay If our selues or others shal finde more we wil gladly correct them THE SECOND TOME OF THE HOLIE BIBLE FAITHFVLLY TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH OVT OF THE AVTHENTICAL LATIN Diligently conferred with the Hebrew Greeke and other Editions in diuers languages With ARGVMENTS of the Bookes and Chapters ANNOTATIONS TABLES and other helpes for better vnderstanding of the text for discouerie of CORRVPTIONS in some late translations and for clearing CONTROVERSIES in Religion BY THE ENGLISH COLLEGE OF DOWAY Spiritu Sancto inspirati locuti sunt sancti Dei hemines 2. Pet. 1. The holie men of God spake inspired with the Holie Ghost Printed at Doway by LAVRENCE KELLAM at the signe of the holie Lambe M. DC X. APPROBATIO NOs infrascripti in alma Duacensi vniuersitate Sacrae Theologiae Doctores Professores hanc Anglicanam Veteris Testamenti translationem quam tres diuersieius nationis eruditissimi Theologi non solum fidelem sed propter diuersa quae ei sunt adiuncta valde vtilem fidei Catholicae propagandae ac tuendae bonis moribus promouendis sunt testati quorum testimonia ipsorum syngraphis munita vidimus Cuius item Translationis Annotationum Auctores nobis de fidei integtitate eruditionis praestantia probè sunt noti his rebus adducti nixi fructuose euulgari posse censuimus Duaci 8. Nouembris 1609. GVILIELMVS ESTIVS Sacrae Theologiae Doctor in Academia Duacensi Professor BARTHOLOMAEVS PETRVS Sacrae Theologiae Doctor in Vniuersitate Duacensi Professor GEORGIVS COLVENERIVS S. Theologiae Doctor eiusdem in Academia Duacena Professor PROEMIAL ANNOTATIONS vpon the Booke of Psalmes THE authoritie of this Booke was euer authentical and certaine as the assured word of God and Canonical Scripture But concerning the author there be diuers opinions For although it be manifest by the testimonie of Philo and Iosephus that in their time and alwaies before only King Dauid was by al Hebrew Doctors holden for Author of al the Psalmes yet after that lerned Origen and other Christian Doctors expounded manie Psalmes of Christ the Iewes being pressed therwith begane to denie that al were Dauids alleaging for their new opinion the titles of diuers Psalmes and some other difficulties ministring occasion of much needles dispute stil acknowledging the whole booke to be Canonical Wherupon S. Ierom and S. Augustin sometimes admitted those as authores of certaine Psalmes whose names are in the titles thereof S. Cyprian S. Cyril S. Athanasius and others agree in general that Dauid writte not al but differ much in particular touching other supposed authores In so much that Melchisedech Moyses Asaph Eman Idithun The sonnes of Core Salomon Ieremie Ezechiel Esdras Aggaeus and Zacharias are al with more or lesse probabilitie reputed authores of seueral Psalmes Neuertheles it semeth that S. Ierom rather related other mens iudgement then shewed his owne as we shal note by and by And S. Augustin li. 17. c. 14. de ciuit maturely discussing this doubt saith plainly that their Iudgement semed to him more credible vvho attribute al the hundred fiftie Psalmes to Dauid alone Further explicating that wheras some Psalmes haue Dauids owne name in their titles some haue other mens names some none at al this diuersitie importeth not diuers authores but signifieth other thinges either perteyning to the same persons or by interpretation of their names belonging to the present matter as our Lord inspired him Likewise S. Chrysostome resolutely iudgeth that only King Dauid was author of this whole Booke Moued especially by this argument for that Christ and the Apostles alleaging the Psalmes do oftentimes name Dauid as author and neuer anie other Also Origen S. Basil S. Ambrose S. Hilarie Theodoretus Cassiodorus Beda Eutimius and most part of ancient and late writers with the most common voice of Christians cal this booke the Psalmes of Dauid and the General Councels of Carthage Florence and Trent in the Cathologue of Canonical Scriptures recite this booke by the name of Dauids Psalter Moreouer it is clere Act. 2. that the second Psalme though it want his name is Dauids And other Scriptures 2. Paral. 7. v. 6. and 1. Esd 3. v. 10. say plainly that Dauid made the Psalmes 104. 105. 106. 117. 135. beginning Confesse to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer VVhich he appointed the Leuites to sing or play on instruments 1 Paral. 15. 16. and yet they haue not his name in their titles Againe 2. Reg. 23. Dauid is only intitled the egregious or excellent Psalmist of Israel Neither were Asaph Eman and Idithun anie where called Prophetes as are al the writers of holie Scriptures but only masters of musike 1. Paral. 25. And the sonnes of Core were only porters 1. Paral. 26. Finally S. Ierom whose iudgement the whole Church singularly estemeth in al questions belonging to holie Scriptures semeth as much inclined that only the Royal Prophet Dauid was author of this whole booke as to the contrarie For in his Epistle to Paulinus prefixed before the Latin Bible comprehending the principal arguments of seueral bookes when he cometh to the Psalmes without mention of other authors saith Dauid our Simonides Pindarus and Alceus Flaccus also
ye and see that our Lord is sweete blessed is the man that hopeth in him †Feare ye our Lord al ye his sainctes because there is no lacke to them that feare him †The rich haue wanted and haue bene hungrie but they that seeke after our Lord shal not be diminished of any good †Come children heare me I wil teach you the feare of our Lord. †Who is the man that wil haue life loueth to see good daies †“ Stay thy tongue from euil and thy lippes that they speake not guile †Turne away from euil and do good seeke after peace and pursewe it †The eies of our Lord vpon the iust and his eares vnto their prayers †But the countenance of our Lord is vpon them that doe euil things to destroy their memorie out of the earth †The iust haue cried and our Lord hath heard them and out of al their tribulations he hath deliuered them †Our Lord is nigh to them that are of a contrite hart and the humble of spirit he wil saue †Manie are the tribulations of the iust and out of al these our Lord wil deliuer them Our Lord keepeth al their bones there shal not one of them be broken The death of sinners is verie il and they that hate the iust shal offend Our Lord wil redeme the soules of his seruantes and al that hope in him shal not offend ANNOTATIONS PSALME XXXIII 1. He changed his countenance S. Augustin by holie Dauids changing of his countenance and by changing the king of Geth his name who in the booke of kinges where the historie is recorded is called Achis and here Abimelech gethereth that here is an hidden and great Mysterie VVhich he explicateth partly by interpretation of the Hebrew names but more especially by Dauids changing of his countenance which prefigured Christ eternal God becoming also man and so making great changes in the world For as Dauid killed Goliath and for his good act gotte enuie so Christ killing the diuel and humilitie in Christs meÌ„bers killing pride are persecuted by the wicked For Christ was both to the ruine and Resurrection of manie He changed Sacrifice and Priesthood The Iewes had sacrifice according to the order of Aaron in victims of cattle and this was in mysterie For there was not then the Sacrifice of the bodie and bloud of our Lord which the faithful and those that haue read the Gospel do know which Sacrifice is now spread in al the round earth Aâ—litle after the Sacrifice of Aaron is taken away and the Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech begane to be He therfore I knovv not vvho changed his countenance Let it not be I knovv not vvho for our Lord Iesus Christ is knowen He would haue our health to be in his bodie and bloud From whence did he commend his bodie and bloud from his humilitie For vnles he were humble he would neither be eaten nor druncke Behold his highnes In the beginning was the vvord and the vvord was with God and God the vvord Loe the euerlasting meate and Angels eate it supernal powres eate it celestial spirites eate it and they eate and are fatted and the thing remaineth whole which satiateth and reioyceth them How then hath the vvisdome of God fedde vs vvith the same bread the word was made flesh and dwelt in vs It were too long to recite this great Doctors vvhole discourse He further sheweth that Christ dismissed the Ievves and vvent from them to the Gentiles Thou seekest novv Christ saith he among the Ievves and findest him not because he hath changed his countenance For they sticking to the sacrifice according to the order of Aaron held not the Sacrifice according to the order of Melchisedech and haue lost Christ and the Gentiles haue begunne to haue him Againe this holie father vvilleth vs to remember the Gospel VVhen our Lord Iesus Christ spake of his bodie he said Vnles you eate the flesh of the Sonne of man and drinke his bloud you shal not haue life in you because he had changed his countenance this semed as furie and madnes vnto them to geue his flesh to be eaten of men his bloud to be drunke therfore Dauid vvas reputed madde before Achis vvhen he said you haue brought this madde man vnto me Doth it not seme madnes Eate ye my flesh and drinke my bloud He semed to be madde thus S. Augustin Neuer imagining the figuratiue interpretation of our nevv Sacramentaries vvho say Christ gaue no more but a figure of his bodie bloud for then it had bene easily vnderstood by the Capharnaites and no such contradiction nor murmuring had happened Yet S. Augustin saith more plainly if more plaine may be Christ caried himselfe in his ovvne handes And hovv this can be done bretheren in man vvho can vnderstand For vvho is caried in his ovvne handes A man may be caried in the handes of others no man is caried in his ovvne handes VVe find not hovv it can be vnderstood in Dauid according to the letter but in Christ vve find it For Christ vvas caried in his ovvne handes vvhen geuing his verie bodie he said This is my bodie for he caried his bodie in his ovvne handes 14 15. â—tay thy tongue c. Both these verses and frequent other places in the Psalmes shevv plainly that iustice consisteth not only in faith but in abstayning from euil and doing good yet requiring and presupposing true faith vvithout which no workes are aualable to iustice nor to euerlasting life PSALME XXXIIII Dauid in figure of Christ prophetically by way of inuocating Gods helpe forsheweth his persecution and the iust reuenge vpon his persecutors 9. with praise to God 13. his charitie towards his cruel aduersaries 17. whom neuertheles God punisheth 20. for pretending peace in wordes and in fact persecuting 23. rendering to al as they deserue To Dauid himself IVDGE ô Lord them that hurt me ouerthrow them that impugne me †Take armour and shield and rise vp to helpe me †Bring forth the sword and shut vp against them that perfecute me say to my soule I am thy saluation †Let them be counfounded ashamed that seeke my soule Let them be turned backward and be confounded that thinke euil against me †Be they made as dust before the face of winde and the angel of our Lord straictning them †Let their way be made darkenesse and slippernes and the angel of our Lord pursewing them †Because they haue hid the destruction of their snare for me without cause in vaine haue they vpbrayded my soule †Let the snare which he knoweth not come on him and the net which he hath hid catch him and let him fal into the verie same snare †But my soule shal reioyce in our Lord and shal be delighted vpon his saluation †Al
†Confesse ye to our Lord because he is good because his mercie is for euer PSALME CXVIII A perpetual recommendation of the singular excellencie absolute necessitie and eternal heauenlie profite of Gods law with frequent aspirations to perfection hatred of sinne loue of vertue and feruent desire to rest in God GENERAL ANNOTATIONS VPON THIS CXVIII PSALME As this Psalme is the longest in the whole Psalter so it semeth to the ancient Fathers most profound in sense And so much the harder to be vnderstood because also the very hardnes therof lieth hidden which in diuers other Psalmes and partes of holie Scripture easily appeareth to the reader But here the wordes being clere and the sense also plaine and easie in some pointes of doctrine yet the more deligence is imployed the more difficultie is found in searching the whole sense and mearning of euerie word and sentence with the maner obserued in composing it and the frequent repetition of the same or like wordes Al which maturely considered caused that great Clerke and light of the Church S Augustin to omite this Psalme when he explicated al the rest And when at last he added also this he wittingly omitted one special difficultie which he doubted not to be conteyned in the maner of composing it not only by order of the Hebrew Alphabet as diuers more Psalmes and some other partes of holie Scripture but more artificially hen anie other the first eight versâ—s al beginning with the first letter Aleph the next eight with the second letter Beth and so to the last of the two and twentie letters Of which omission he yeldeth this only reason because he found nothing as he humbly affirmeth that might properly perteyne the unto Confessing also expresly that whensoeuer he applied his cogitations to expound the text iâ— self i◠〈…〉 exceded his habilitie But finally to satisfie the often and earnest request of his bretheren and freindes trusting as alvvayes in Gods special help he largely expoundeth it in thirtie two distinct Sermons S. Ambrose also moued with like pietie made two and twentie Sermons in exposition of this Psalme Affirming in his Prologue that amongst other Psalmes especially this sheweth how great a master king Dauid was of moral good life For al moral doctrine being of his owne nature swete yet most delighteth the eares and gently toucheth the minde being vttered as here it is with pleasantnes of verse and swetenes of songue Againe whereas this Royal Prophet in manie places of this booke powrethout sentences of moral psalmes or songues as bright starres that shine and glister to al the world here most excellently he produceth a more singular mirrhor as the sunne of ful light burning with meridian heate And for the prosite of al the better to draw our attentions to lerne that we may though we can not attaine to al that we vvould he disposed this Psalme through al the Alphabeth that as children beginning vvith the first letters make entrance to further knovvlege so by the same beginninges vve should lay the first foundation and therupon procede in our spiritual building tovvards perfection in good life the true seruice of God VVhich is yet further insinuated as the same Doctor reacheth by the eight verses continually beginning vvith the same letter and so other eight in order through the vvhole Alphabet to signifie that after seuen dayes trauel in this temporal life vve may come to that vnitie vvhich vve expect in the eight day of resurrection vvhen vve hope to rise reuiued in our Lord Iesus in nevvnes of eternal life Lickevvise S. Basil in the Argument of this Psalme admonisheth that vvheras holie Dauid according to diuers states vvhich he passed vvritte diuers Psalmes as vvhen he fled from his enimies vvhen he lamented his distresses mourned in pensiuenes enioyed peace and comforte ranne a right course of vertue fel from God by sinne againe returning obserued Gods lavves in this one Psalme he comprehendeth al his prayers made to God at sundrie times here proposeth the same as a certaine profitable moral doctrine to al sortes and states of men Neither doth he pretermite doctrinal pointes of faith but interposeth them also with moral documents in such sorte that this one Psalme may suffice to teach the vvel disposed hovv to attaine to perfection in vertue to sturre vp the slouthful vnto diligent care of their soules to recreate the desolate vvith spiritual consolations briefly it admmistereth al kinde of medicine to the diuers passions of mortal men For the like iudgements of other Farhers vve remitte the lerned reader to S. Hilarie Theodoret Prosper Arnobius Cassiodorus Beda Euthymius and others but can not wel omitte a brief instruction of S. Ierom. VVho in his Epistle to Paula Vrbica not only sheweth the interpretation of the two and twentie letters but also explicateth their sense in this place by connecting them into certaine shorte sentences in this maner Aleph Beth Gimel Daleth Doctrina Domus Plenitudo Tabularum Doctrine Of the house Fulnesse Of tables VVhich is the first connexion signifying that the doctrine of the house that is the Church of God is found in the fulnes of diuine bookes The second connexion is He Vau Zain Heth. Ista Et Haec Vita This thing And This Life For what other life can there be without knowlege of Scriptures wherby also Christ is knowen who is the life of them that beleue in him The third connexion is Teth Iod. Bonum Principium Good Beginning Albeit we now could know al thinges which are written yet we know but in part and in part we prophecie for we see now by a glasse in a darke sort but when we shal be worthie to be with Christ and shal be like to Angels theu doctrine of bookes shal cease and then we shal see face to face the Good Beginning euen as he is The fourth connexion is Caph Lamed Manus Disciplinae siue cordis The hande Of discipline or of hart The handes are vnderstood in worke hart and discipline are vnderstood in sense or meaning because we can not rightly doe anie thing vnles vve first knovv vvhat thinges are to be donne The fift connexion is Mem Nun Samech Ex ipsis Sempiternum Adiutorium Of them Euerlasting Helpe This needeth not explication for it is manifest as the light that from Scriputres are eternal helpes The sixt connexion is Ain Phe Sade Fons siue Oculus Oâ—is Iust tiae Fountaine or Eye Of the mouth Of iustice According to that vvhich vve haue expounded in the fourth connexion that dedes and intention must concurre The seuenth connexion vvhich is last in vvhich number of seuen is also mystical vnderstanding Coph Res Shin Teu Vocatio Capitis Dentium Signa Vocation Of the head Of teeth Signes Distinct voice is produced by the teeth in these signes vve come to the Head of al vvhich is Christ by
S. Ierom. VVhose discourse vve haue here cited at large for a taste of his profound exposition of this vvhole booke that such as haue apportunitie may read the rest in the auctor himself To. 7. CHAP. XI Workes of mercie are necessarie whiles we haue time 3. because after death none can merite 4. neither must we differ to beginne nor cease from good dedes 8. but stil be mindful of death and iudgement 10. auoiding wrath and malice CAST thy bread vpon the passing waters because after much time thou shalt finde it †Geue a portion to seuen and also to eight because thou knowest not what euil shal be vpon the earth †If the cloudes be ful they wil powre out raine vpon the earth If the tree shal fal to the South or to the North in what place soeuer it shal fal there shal it be †He that obserueth the winde soweth not and he that considereth the cloudes shal neuer reape †As thou art ignorant which is the way of the spirite how the bones are framed together in the wombe of her that conceiueth childe so thou knowest not the workes of God who is the maker of al. †In the morning sow thy seede and in the euening let not thy hand cease for thou knowest not which may rather spring this or that and if both together it shal be the better †The light is sweete and it is delectable for the eyes to see the sunne †If a man shal liue manie yeares and shal haue reioyced in them al he must remember the darkesome time and manie dayes which when they shal come the thinges past shal be reproued of vanitie †Reioyce therfore yongman in thy youth and let thy hart be in good in the dayes of thy youth and walke in the wayes of thy hart and in the sight of thyne eyes and know that for al these God wil bring thee into iudgement †Take away anger from thy hart and remoue malice from thy flesh For youth and pleasure are vaine CHAP. XII In youth is fittest time and most meritorious to serue God In age the same is more and more necessarie but harder then to beginne and lesse gratful 8. In this booke the preacher hath shewed that al worldlie thinges are vanitie 13. and that true felicitie is only procured by wisdom which consteth in the feare of God and obseruation of his commandments REMEMBER thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before the time of affliction come the yeares approch of which thou maist say They please me not †before the sunne and light and moone and starres be darke and the cloudes returne after the raine †when the kepers of the house shal be moued and the strongest men shal stagger and the grinders shal be idle in a smal number and they shal waxe darke that looke through the holes †and they shal shut the doores in the streate at the basenes of the grinders voice and they shal rise vp at the voice of the birde and al the daughters of song shal be deafe †The high thinges also shal feare and they shal be afrayd in the way the almondtree shal florish the locust shal be fatted and the capertree shal be destroyed because man shal goe into the house of his eternitie and the mourners shal goe round about in the streate †Before the siluer coard be broken and the golden headband recurre and the water pot be broken vpon the fountaine and the wheele be broken vpon the cesterne †and the dust returne into his earth from whence it was and the spirite returne to God who gaue it †Vanitie of vanities sayd Ecclesiastes and al thinges vanitie †And wheras Ecclesiastes was most wise he taught the people and declared the thinges that he had done and searching forth made manie parables †He sought profitable wordes and wrote wordes most right and ful of truth †The wordes of wisemen are as prickes and as nailes deepely stricken in which by the counself of maisters are geuen of one pastour †More then these my sonne require not Of making manie bookes there is no end and often meditation is affliction of the flesh †Let vs al heare together the end of speaking Feare God and obserue his commandments for this is euerie man †and al thinges that are done God wil bring into iudgement for euerie errour whether it be good or euil THE ARGVMENT OF THE CANTICLE OF CANTICLES SALOMON called also Ecclesiastes and Idida according to these three names as S. Ierom noteth writte three bookes of three particular arguments directed to three degrees of people with three distinct titles al tending to one end the true seruice of God which bringeth to eternal felicitie In the first he teacheth the principles of good life to flee from vices and folow vertues belonging to such as beginne to obserue Gods law wherin true wisdom consisteth and this booke is called the Prouerbes or Parables that is to say Pithie brief sentencious precepts of Salomon which signifieth Pacificus Peaceable or Pacifier the sonne of Dauid King of Israel In the second he exhorteth to contemne this world shewing that true felicitie consisteth not in anie worldlie or temporal thinges but in the eternal fruition of God which is obtayned by keping his commandments And this booke he intitleth The wordes of Ecclesiastes which is Concionator Preacher Sonne of Dauid King of Ierusalem because he there exhorteth such as haue made some progresse in vertues called Proficientes signified by the inhabitants of the Metropolitan citie Ierusalem whereas in the former he stiled himself king of Israel proposing precepts mete for al the twelue tribes and al vulgar men desirous and beginning to serue God In both bookes for more auctoritie sake making mention of his godlie renowmed father the Royal Prophet Dauid with his owne title also of king But in this third booke he only expresseth his proper name Salomon whom God singularly loued wherof he was called Idida Because this alone without mention of father or king was most conuenient for the Perfect who not as seruants or yong scholars are moued by feare of auctoritie but as children are swetly drawne by loue And this he writte in verse intitling it not simply a Canticle but The Canticle of Canticles as preeminent aboue other Canticles The bridal songue for the Mariage to be solemnized betwen God himself and his glorious spouse For though al holie Scriptures are the spiritual bread and food of the faithful yet al are not meate for al at al seasons Some parts are not for sinners nor for beginners nor for such as are yet in the way towards perfection but only for the perfect According to the Apostles doctrine Milke is for children that are yet vnskilful of the word of iustice But strong meate is for the perfect them that by custom haue their senses
is no barren among them †As the barke of a pomegranate so are thy cheekes beside thy hidden †There are threescore queenes fourescore concubines and of yongmaydes there is no number †My doue is one my perfect one she is the only to her mother elect to her that bare her The daughters haue seene her and declared her to be most blessed the queenes and concubines and haue praysed her †What is she that cometh forth as the morning rysing fayre as the moone elect as the sunne terrible as the armie of a campe set in aray †I came downe into the garden of nuttes to see the fruites of the valles and to looke if the vineyarde had florished and the pomegranats budded †I knew not my soule trubled me for the chariotes of Aminadab †Returne returne ô Sulamitesse returne returne that we may behold thee CHAP. VII VVHAT shalt thou see in the Sulamitesse but the companies of campes How beautiful are thy pases in shoes ô princes daughter b the ioyntes of thy thighes are as iewels that are made by the hand of the artificer †Thy nauel as à round bowle neuer wanting cuppes Thy bellie as an heape of wheate compassed about with lilies †Thy two breasts as two fawnes the twinnes of a roe †Thy necke as a towre of yuorie Thine eies as the fishpooles in Hesebon which are in the gate of the daughter of the multitude Thy nose as the towre of Libanus that looketh against Damascus †Thy head as Carmelus and the heares of thy head as a kings purple tyed to cundite pipes †How beautiful art thou and how comely my dearest in delightes †Thy stature is like to a palmetree thy breastes to clusters of grapes †I sayd I wil goe vp into the palmetree and wil take hold of the fruites therof and thy breasts shal be as the clusters of a vineyard and the odour of thy mouth as it were of apples †Thy throate as the best wine worthie for my beloued to drinke for his lippes and his teeth to ruminate †I to my beloued and his turning is toward me †Come my beloued let vs goeforth in to the filde let vs abide in the villages †Let vs rise earely to the vineyards let vs see if the vineyard florishe if the flowers be readie to bring forth fruites if the pomegranates florish there wil I giue thee my breasts †The Mandragoraes haue geuen a smel In our gates al fruites the new and the old my beloued I haue kept for thee CHAP. VIII VVHO shal giue to me thee my brother sucking the breasts of my mother that I may finde thee without and kisse thee and now no man despise me †I wil take hold of thee and wil bring thee into my mothers house there thou shalt teach me and I wil giue thee a cuppe of spiced wine and new wine of my pomegranats †His left hand vnder my head and his right hand shal embrace me †I adiure you ô daughters of Ierusalem that you rayse not vp nor make the beloued to awake til herselfe wil. †Who is this that cometh vp from the desert flowing with delightes leaning vpon her beloued Vnder the appletree I raysed thee vp d there thy mother was corrupted there she vas defloured that bare thee †Put me as a seale vpon thy hart as a seale vpon thyne arme because loue is strong as death ielousie is hard as hel the lampes thereof lampes of fyre and flames †Manie waters can not quench charitie neither shal floudes ouerwhelme it if a man shal giue al the substance of his house for loue as nothing he shal despise it †e Our sister is litle and hath no breasts What shal we doe to our sister in the day when she is to be spoken vnto †If she be a wal let vs build vpon it bulwarkes of siluer if she be a doore let vs ioyne it together with bordes of ceder †I am a wal and my breasts are as a towre since I was made before him as one finding peace †The peacemaker had a vinyard in that which hath peoples he deliuered the same to keepers a man bringeth for the fruite thereof a thousand peeces of siluer †My vineyard is before me A thousand are thy peacemakers and two hundreth for them that keepe the fruites thereof †Thou that dwellest in the gardens the frends doe harken make me heare thy voice †Flee ô my beloued and be like to the roe and to the fawne of harts vpon the mountaines of aromatical spices THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF WISDOM AS wel of the auctor as of the auctoritie of this booke there haue bene diuers opinions among the lerned But in processe of time the first is probably discussed the other is clerly decided by the Church For concerning the former doubt Manie ancient Fathers alleage sentences of this Booke as the sayinges of Salomon Namely S. Ireneus apud Eusebium lib. 5. c. 8. Hist S. Clement of Alexandria li. 5. 6. Stromat Origen ho. 12. in Leuit. li. 8. in Epist ad Rom. S. Athanasius in Synopsi Orat. 2. cont Arrian S. Basil li. 5. cont Eunomianos S. Epiphanius heresi 67. S. Gregorie Nazianzen lib. de Fide S. Gregorie Nissen in Testimonijs ex vet Testam cap. de Natiuitate ex Virgine S. Chrisost hom 33. 34. in Mat. S. Cyril of Alexandria li. 10. c. 4. Also S. Cyprian li. de exhortat Martyrum c. 12. li. 3. c. 59. ad Quirin li. de Mortalitate S. Hilarie in Psal 127. S. Ambrose li. de Salomone c. 1. and diuers others suppose Salomon to be auctor of this booke To whom likewise some of them ascribe the booke of Ecclesiasticus But S. Ierom Praefatione in libros Salomonis testifieth that some ancient writers affirme this booke to be written by Philo a Iew and the other by Iesus the sonne of Sirach And S. Augustin very plainly li. 17. c. 20. de ciuit saith custom preuailed that the bookes of Wisdom Ecclesiasticus for some similitude of speach are called Salomons but the more lerned assuredly iudge that they are not his what then shal we say seing so manie other ancient lerned Doctors cite them as his The answer is easie And sufficiently insinuated by S. Augustin that these two bookes being like vnto the other three which are Salomons were also called his VVherto we may adde a like example in the two first bookes of Kinges which are called the bookes of Samuel though he writte not al the first nor anie part of the second Moreouer al these fiue are called by one general title Sapiential bookes In so much that the Church readeth in the sacred Office before al Epistles taken out of anie of these fiue bookes not Lectio Prouerbiorum
voice Great art thou ô Bel and there is not any deceite with thee †And Daniel laughed and he held the king that he should not goe in and he sayd Behold the pauement marke whose steppes these are †And the king sayd I see the steppes of men wemen and of infantes And the king was angrie †Then apprehended he the priests their wiues their children and they shewed him secrete litle doores by which they came in consumed the thinges that were on the table †The king therfore them he deliuered Bel into the powre of Daniel who ouerthrewe him his temple †And there was a great dragon in that place the Babylonians worshipped him †And the king sayd to Daniel Loe now thou canst not say that this same is not a liuing god adore him therfore †And Daniel sayd The Lord my God I doe adore because he is the liuing God †but thou ô king geue me licence and I wil kil the Dragon without sword and clubbe And the king sayd I geue thee licence †Daniel therfore tooke pitch fatte and heares and sod them together he made lumpes and gaue into the Dragons mouth the Dragon burst in sunder And he sayd Loe whom you worshipped †Which when the Babylonians had heard they were wrath excedingly and being gathered together against the king they said The king is become a Iewe. Bel he hath destroyed the Dragon he hath killed he hath slaine the priests †And they sayd when they were come to the king Deliuer vs Daniel otherwise we wil kil thee thy house †The king therfore saw that they pressed vpon him vehemently and compelled by necessity he deliuered Daniel to them †Who cast him into the lake of lions and he was there six dayes †Moreouer in the lake were seuen lions there were geuen to them two bodies euerie day two sheepe and they were not geuen vnto them that they might deuoure Daniel †And there was d Habacuc a prophete in Iewrie he had boyled broth had broken bread in a bowle and he went into the field to carie it to the reapers †And the Angel of our Lord sayd to Habacuc Carie the dinner which thou hast into Babylon to Daniel who is in the lake of lions †And Habacuc sayd Lord Babylon I haue not sene and the lake I know not †And the Angel of our Lord tooke him by the toppe of his head and caried him by the heare of his head put him into Babylon ouer the lake in the force of his spirit †And Habacuc cried saying Daniel take the dinner that God hath sent to thee †And Daniel sayd Thou hast remembred me ô God and hast not forsaken them that loue thee †And Daniel rysing vp did eate Moreouer the Angel of our Lord restored Habacuc forth with in his place †The king therfore came the seuenth day to lament Daniel and he came to the lake and looked in and behold Daniel sitting in the middes of the lions †And the king cried out with a lowd voice saying Great art thou ô Lord the God of Daniel And he drew him out of the lake of lions †But those that had bene the cause of his perdition he cast into the lake and they were deuoured in a moment before him †Then the king sayd Let al inhabitants in the whole earth feare the God of Daniel because he is the Sauiour doing signes meruels in the earth who hath deliuered Daniel out of the lions denne THE ARGVMENT OF THE TWELVE LESSE PROPHECLES VVHY Isai Ieremie Ezechiel and Daniel are called the foure greater Prophetes and these twelue the lesse there semeth no other certaine and proper reason but because they writte more largely and these more brifely For otherwise without essential difference al the sixtene as also Baruch whose booke is inserted with Ieremies and Moyses Samuel the Royal Psalmist Dauid Nathan Elias Elizeus Esdras Nehemias and manie others some writing bookes some not were absolutly true Prophetes of God indued with the holie spirite of prophecie had the like reuelations with the same assurance of truth in great part of the same Mysteries as wel perteyning to the old Testament as to the New And so these twelue contracted into the straitnes of one volume sayth S. Ierom multò aliud quam sonant in litera praefigurant Prefigurate a farre other thing then they sound in the letter Sygnifying as he elswhere explicateth that they do foreshew manie important thinges not only perteyning no the Iewes and some other peoples of those former times but also of al nations to be conuerted to Christ They were not al at one time but O see Ioel Amos Abdias Ionas and Micheas prophecied before the captiuitie of the tenne Tribes Nahum Habacuc and Sophonias after that captiuitie and before the captiuitie of the two Tribes And the other three Aggaeus Zacharias and Malachie after the relaxation from captiuitie Neither did they al prophecie in the same places nor concerning the same people and so haue their particular arguments as we shal briefly note of euerie one as they folow in order Here vve may note for instruction of the vulgar reader that the Prophetes commonly vse one of these names when they direct their speach of the kingdom of two Tribes Iuda Beniamin Ierusalem or The house of Dauid Because Iuda vvas the chiefe and most vvorthie tribe Beniamin the other only tribe besides Leui that ioyned vvith Iuda Ierusalem the Metropolitan and Royal citie vvhere both the Temple and Kinges palace vvere situated The House of Dauid is the familie vvherof succeded al the kinges of that kingdom so long as it stood and of vvhich some remayned in more estimation then anie other euen to Christ Likevvise they vse some of these other names vvhen they speake of the kingdom of tenne Tribes Ephraim Ioseph Samaria Iezrahel Bethel or Bethauen For that their first king Ieroboam vvas of the tribe of Ephraim and so descended from Ioseph Samaria and Iezrahel vvere the chifest cities of that kingdom Bethel vvas one of the places Dan the other vvhere Ieroboam set vp the tvvo calues VVhich place vvas othervvise more truly called Bethauen the house of the idol or of vanitie or iniquitie The names also of Israel and Iacob were more commonly vsed for the tenne tribes who being more in number vsurped and appropriated to themselues the names of their general Progenitor and Patriarch Yet sometimes these names importe al the tvvelue tribes including also Leui. And sometimes especially after the captiuitie of the tenne tribes these names signifie the tvvo tribes only vvhich more imitated Iacobs steppes and vertues then the tenne THE PROPHECIE OF OSEE OSEE borne in Belomoth as writeth S. Epiphanius of the tribe of Issachar prophecied in the reigne of Ozias otherwise called Azarias Ioathan Achaz Ezechias kinges
in the space of nere 300. yeares   l 2564.   l Othoniel the first Iudge of the tribe of Iuda deliuered the Israelites from molestation of the king of Syria He gouerned comprehending also the intermission fourtie yeares Iudic. 3. v. 11. Neither did it suffice their phancies to coÌ„mend themselues and their goodes to the protection of few goddes but diuers thinges yea and the same thinges according to diuers state to diuers goddes and goddesses As S. Augustin noteth li. 4. c. 8. de ciuit that they thought it not sufficient to coÌ„mend their landes possessions to one god or goddesse but the fieldes to one mouÌ„taines to an other little hilles to an other valleys or medowes to an other Likewise their corne not al to one but the sede newly sowne to one beginning to brewerd to an other when it riseth beginneth to haue knottes to an other when it bladeth to an other when the eare springeth to an other when it is ripe readie to be reaped to an other And so without end more and more vaine goddes were imagined by the diuels suggestion The booke of Iudges sheweth the state of the people of God the space of nere three hundred yeares after the death of Iosue when they had sometimes temporal gouerners of diuers tribes some times none m 2588.   m Aod of the tribe of Beniamin the second Iudge killed Eglon king of Moab and so deliuered Israel and slew tenne thousand Moabites Iud. 3. v. 20. 29.      n Samgar a husbandman the third Iudge killing six hundred Philisthimes with the culter of a plough defended Israel Iudic. 3. v. 31. He with Aod and the times wanting iudges gouerned seuentie fiue yeares   o 2663.   o Barach by direction of Debora a prophetesse fighting against Sisara chiefe captaine of Iabin king of Asor Iahil a stout woman slew the same captaine striking a naile in his head Iud. 4. They gouerned 38. yeares    Abisue Salmon p Gedeon confirmed by miracles that he was sent of God ouertherw the Madianites and deliuered Israel gouerning fourtie yeares Iudic. 6. 7. 8.   p 2701.   q Abimelech the base sonne of Gedeon vniustly vsurping auctoritie killed his seuenty bretheren one only escaping but within three yeares was hated of his folowers and slaine by a woman Iud 9.   q 2741.   r Thola defended the countrie from inuasion of enimies three yeares Iud. 10.   r 2744.   s Iair a potent noble man defended the people twentie two yeares Iud. 10. v. 3.   s 2767. Bocci  t Iepte first reiected but afterwards intreated by the ancientes of the people fought for them and ouerthrew the enemies And vpon an vndiscrete vow offered his daughter in sacrifice Iud. 11.   t 2789.  Booz   who so deluding men brought them to eternal ruine    v He killed in ciuil warre fourtie two thousand Ephraimites and gouerned six yeares Iud. 12.   w 2795.   w Abesan a fortunate good man ruled in peace seuen yeares Iudic. 12. v. 9. About this time Booz of the tribe of Iuda maried Ruth a Moabite by whom the right line of Iudas descended by Phares to Dauid Ruth 4. v. 18. c. The people in this time of peace fel againe to idolatrie For which God suffered the Philistimes to afflict them Iud. 13. The tribe of Dan set vp idolatrie Iud. 18.  x 2802.   x Ahialon gouerned likewise in peace tenne yeares Iud. 12. v. 11. A hainous crime being committed in the tribe of Beniamin and not punished the other Israelites made battle against them being themselues also great sinners lost manie men in two conflictes but in the third the tribe of Beniamin was almost destroyed Iud. 19. v. 20. The booke of Ruth amongst other mysteries sheweth the genealogie of Dauid of whose sede Christ was borne y 2812.  Obed. y Abdon an other nobleman gouerned eight yeares Iud. 12. v. 13.   z 2820. Ozi  z Samson from his birth a Nazareite of admirable streingth did manie heroical actes killed manie Philistimes in his life more by his owne death He gouerned twentie yeares Iud. 13. v. 5. c. ch 16. v. 31.   a 2840. Hei otherwise Zaraias  a Heli of the stocke of Aaron by the line of Ithamar was High priest and gouerned Israel fourtie yeares 1. Reg. 4. v. 18.     Isai or Iesse b Samuel whose mother being long barren had presented him an infant in the temple according to her vow was a Nazareire and a prophet from a child 1.  The foure bookes of kings shew the state of the Church from the b 2880.     first kinges of Gods people to their captiuitie And the two bookes of Paralipomenon do repete briefly some thinges written before partly adde thinges omitted in other bookes  Maraioth Dauid b. Reg. 1. 3. And after the death of Heli gouerned the people of Israel before Saul twentie yeares And with him twentie yeares more About the yeare of the world 2830. Troy was taken and destroyed by the Grecians In which battel were Agamemnon Vlisses Achilles Nestor many others not in dede so renowmed for anie vertues or factes of their owne as Homer Horace Viâ—gil Onid others by poetical libertie flatterie sette them forth But most follie appeareth in that the citie of Rome was afterwards commended to those goddes which were taken in Troy not able to defend them selues from inuasion and spoile S. Aug. li. 1. c. 3. ciuit The psalmes written by Dauid a summarie of al holie Scriptures c 2900. Achimelech or Amarias Dauid king c By the importunitie of the people to haue a king God appointed Samuel to annoint Saul 1. Reg. 10. who at first gouerned wel but afterwards declining from God was deposed Dauid annointed by the same prophet Samuel 1. Reg. 16. Yet Saul was not actually depriued of the scepter so long as he liued 1. Reg. 31.   d 2920. Abiathar or Achitob Salomon d Dauid king prophetâ—â— led his kingdom as a right parterne of al good kinges made the booke of Psalmes ful of al diuine knowlege prepared meanes for building the temple ordained diuers sortes of musitians and reigned fourtie yeares 2. Reg. totus 2. Par. 23 c.   e 2960. Sadoc  e Salomon excelling in wisdom prospered in this world 3. Reg. 3. c.   f 2964.   f He built the temple and adorned the same with al excellent furniture requisite for Gods seruice disposing al in order as Dauid had ordained   THE END OF THE FOVRTH AGE THE BEGINNING OF THE FIFTH AGE AnnimuÌ„di High-priests kinges of luda The sacred Historie Schismes and infidelitie Scriptures g 2972.   g The temple being finished in seuen yeares was
:: Either his first sonne was dead or was not fitte to be chief ouer the rest :: Thinges are sanctified by designation to holie vse :: King Dauid hauing hereto fore offended in commanding to number the whole people 2. Reg. 24. would not now attempt to number al which were in deede innumerable but only those that were to be disposed of in specialseruices 3. Reg. 1. 2. Reg. 7. :: So Iacob prophecied that the royal scepter should come to the tribe of Iuda and therein remaine til Christ Gen. 49. :: It is here euident that Salomon was some time the true seruant and childe of God keeping his preceptes and as certaine that he fel into great sinnes and lost Gods grace and finally it is doubtful in what state he died 3. Reg. 11. wherby is conuinced their vaine phancie that thinck he who is once the child of God can neuer fal nor become a wicked man * a kind of sinne white stone :: That which he had already vowed and prepared he counted not his owne and now goueth more to the building and 〈…〉 thing of the Temple :: As Abraham Isaac Iacob and others were straÌ„gers in respect of Chanaan so both they and also Dauid Salomon and al men in this world are pilgrimes in respect of heauen Heb. 13. :: Albeit they did the same exterior act of honour to God and the king yet in their mind intention they gaue diuine honour to God and ciuil to the king See Exod. 20. â— Reg. 1. v. 34. :: Either Nathan and Gad writ the later part of the first booke and the second booke of kinges or els their bookes are not now extant 1. Par. 1. The connexion of this booke with the former 11. 28. The contentes diuided into two partes The first part Salomons reigne in the whole kingdome 1. Palaâ— 13. :: It is the maner of holie scripture to expresse thinges exceding vulgar capacitie by the figure Hyperbole â— Reg. 5. :: It is probable that this man had instructed the king of Tyre in true religion of one God whom he confesseth v. 11. 12. and that therfore the king called him his father :: This mount Moria signifying vision was so named by Abraham who was there readie to sacrifice his sonne Isaac Gen. 22. :: And Dauid by the appointment of an Angel offered there sacrifice â— Reg. 24. â— Par. 21. 2 Reg. 24 3. Reg. 6. 3. Reg. 7. :: As wel the Temple as the Altars and other appertinances were made after the forme of Moyses Tabernacle altares of sacrifice incense and the rest but greater in quantitie of more precious matter and more excellent workmanship :: A great brasen vessel and some other thinges that were not before 3. Reg. 7. :: Also a greatter number of candlestickes and other the like * or pommels 3. Reg. 7. :: An other Arke was not made because that was most holie most excellent which Moyses made Likewise other holie thinges of the tabernacle were brought into the Temple with great solemnitie :: God shewed his presence by the darke cloud which replenished the Temple * Basilicae :: Kneeling :: Lifting vp handes stretching forth armes and the like external gestures do much helpe internal attention in prayer and also sturre vp others to godlie imitation and therfore hath bene much practised by deuout persons both in the old and new Testament :: In this chapter and often els where it is euident that places dedicated to Gods seruice are more acceptable to him then other places :: As the Temple was the special place of prayer chosen by God v. 12 so special Hymmâ—s Psalmes and other set formes of blessing are more gratful to God and more effectual to his seruantes :: Salomon was yet so farre from communicating with Infidels that he suffered not his wife an infidel to be present where the Arke of God had bene placed 1. Par. 15. 3. 〈◊〉 10 :: They are called kinges of God which reigne by his grace and according to his wil. VVherevpon they vse this stile By the grace of God K. of England Ierusalem c. :: His fall to luxurie and idolatrie is recorded 3. Reg. 11. 3. Reg. 12. The second part Diuision of the kingdom Dauids issue reigning only in two tribes which also are caried captiue into Babylon :: A worthie example to suffer temporal damage rather then to conforme them selues to the practise of false religion 3. Reg. 15 :: A firme and perpetual couenant Num. 18. v. 19. :: It perteyned properly to the king to destroy the exterior practise of idolatrie but to the Priestes prophetes to informe the interior mind consciences of euerie one :: Cooperation with Gods grace meriâ—eth increase of grace :: King Asa destroyed the places where Idoles were serued chap. 14. v. 2. but tollerated the places where some offered sacrifice to God beside the proper altar in Ierusalem because this was dispensable and not the other 3. Reg. 15. Iust punishment with paine of his feete for iniuriously putting Gods prophet in fetters v. 10. So God punished him temporally for that and other passionate sinnes and he died in good state for his hart was perfect al his dayes Chap 15. v 17. that is most part of his life especially in his last dayes :: Good workes approued by new benefices from God as a reward ther of do geue more hope confidence to procede from vertue to vertue 5. Tho. li. deregiminâ— Regâ—mâ—i :: For this he was iustly reprehended but his simple intention diminished his fault and so he was more easily pardoned for his good workes otherwise donne in Gods seruice ch 19. 3. :: See Annotation 3. Reg. 〈◊〉 v. 15. :: Precisian Doâ—aâ—â—stes holding it vnâ—â—â—ful to conuerse with sinners amongst other Scriptures alleaged 〈…〉 reprehention of Iosaâ—â—â— for his societie with Achab. To whom S. Augustin answereth that he was not blamed for other conuersation with Achab but for ayding him and ioyning with him in the act of sinne when he contemning Micheas the true prophete of God and beleuing false prophetes went to battel wherin both kinges offended but with difference so one was saâ—â—e though he semed to be secure the other was saued in great danger and repenting was pardoned li. 2. c. 1◠〈◊〉 opist Parmeâ— :: A most plame distinction of spiritual and temporal authoritie and offices not instituted by Iosaphat nor anie other king but by God himself Deut. 17. Num. 27. :: They fasted not only to sub due the flesh to the spirite but also for other necessities :: Example of pilgremage to holie places because it pleaseth God to heare the prayers of good people rather in one place then in an other ch 6. 7. c. :: Faith is the fundation of al good workes Heb. 11. but not sufficient to saluation without other vertues and therefore they not only beleued but also fasted and prayed and where nede required fought with weapons though at this time it pleased God
vertuous race of good life Much more those which also indure persecution for the truthes sake shal receiue most copious great rewardes in heauen For albeit the passions of this time in themselues are not condigne to the glorie to come that shal be reueled in vs yet our tribulation which presently is momentanie and light worketh through grace aboue measure excedingly an eternal weight of glorie VVhat shal we therfore meditate of the especial prerogatiue of English Catholiques at this time For to you it is geuen for Christ not only that you beleue in him but also that you suffer for him A litle now if you must be made pensiue in diuers tentations that the probation of your faith much more precious then gold which is proued by the fire may be found vnto praise and glorie and honour in the reuelation of Iesus Christ Manie of you haue susteyned the spoile of your goodes with ioy knowing that you haue a better and a permanent substance Others haue benne depriued of your children fathers mothers brothers sisters and nerest frendes in readie resolution also some with sentence of death to lose your owne liues Others haue had trial of reproches mockeries and stripes Others of bandes prisons and banishmentes The innumerable renowmed late English Martyres Confessors whose happie soules for confessing true faith before men are now most glorious in heauen we passe here with silence because their due praise requiring longer discourse yea rather Angels then English tongues farre surpasseth the reach of our conceiptes And so we leaue it to your deuout meditation They now secure for themselues and solicitous for vs their dearest clientes incessantly we are wel assured intercede before Christs Diuine Maiestie for our happie consummation with the conuersion of our whole countrie To you therfore dearest frendes mortal we direct this speach admonishing ourselues you in the Apostles wordes that for so much as we haue not yet resisted tentations to last bloud and death itself patience is stil necessarie for vs that doing the wil of God we may receiue the promise So we repine not in tribulation but euer loue them that hate vs pittying their case and reioycing in our owne For neither can we see during this life how much good they do vs nor know how manie of them shal be as we hartely desire they al may be saued our Lord and Sauiour hauing paide the same price by his death for them and for vs. Loue al therefore pray for al. Do not lose your confidence which hath a great remuneration For yet a litle and a very litle while he that is to come wil come and he wil not slacke Now the iust liueth by faith beleeuing with hart to iustice and confessing with mouth to saluation But he that withdraweth himself shal not please Christs soule Attend to your saluation dearest countriemen You that are farre of draw nere put on Christ And you that are within Christs fold kepe your standing perseuere in him to the end His grace dwel and remaine in you that glorious crownes may be geuen you AMEN From the English College in Doway the Octaues of AL SAINCTES 1609. The God of patience and comfort geue you to be of one mind one tovvards another in IESVS Christ that of one mind vvith one mouth you may glorifie God THE SVMME AND PARTITION OF THE HOLIE BIBLE With a brife note of the Canonical and Apochryphal Bookes By the vniforme consent of al learned Diuines the holie Bible or written word of God conteyneth Expressed orimplied al thinges that man is to beleue to obserue to auoid for obtayning of aeternal saluation That is al matters of faith maners by which we may know and serue God and so be spiritually ioyned with him in this life in eternitie For both the old new Testament propose and testifie vnto vs one and the same God the same Christ the same Church and other Mysteries of our beleefe not differing in substance but in maner of vttering the old more obscurely in figures and prophecies foretelling those thinges which the New declareth in great part as donne and performed VVherupon saith S. Augustin In the Old Testament the New lieth hidden in the New the Old lieth open And touching their names wherein appareth difference the one saith the same Doctor is called the old Testament either because it propofeth promises of temporal thinges VVherwith our old corruptnes is allured Or in respect of the New by which it is fulfilled and in some part abolished The other is called the New because by it man is renewed and hath promise of eternal life VVhich shal neuer waxe old nor decay Likewise S. Gregorie the great testifieth this conformitie and correspondence betwen the Old and New Testament affirming that the same is signified by the prophet Esccbiels vision of an hcele which had foure faces or apparence of foure whiles the shape whereof was as it were a wheele in the middes of a wheele What is this saith he nisi quod in Testamenti veteris litera Testamentum nouum latuit per Allegoriam but that in the letter of the old Testament the New lay hidden by an Allegorie And as the same is the summe and subject of both Testaments so both are diuided for the more principal partes therof into foure sortes of Bookes Legal Historical Sapiential Prophetical The Legal bookes of the old Testament are the fiue Bookes of Moises Genesis Exodus Leuiticus Numeri Deuteronomie whereto answer in the new Testament the foure Gospels of S. Matthew S. Marke S. Luke S. Iohn Historical bookes of the old Testament are the Bookes of Iosue Iudges Ruth foure bookes of Kinges two of Paralipomenon Esdras with Nehemias Tobias Iudith Hester Iob two of the Machabees vnto which in the new Testament answer the Actes of the Apostles Sapiential of the old Testament are the Prouerbes Ecclesiastes Canticles Booke of wisdome Ecclesiasticus and of like sorte are in the new Testament the Epistles of S. Paul of other Apostles Prophetical bookes are Dauids Psalter which is also Sapiential yea like wise Legal and Historical the Bookes of Isaias Ieremias with Baruch Ezechiel Daniel the twelue lesse Prophetes Osea Ioel Amos Abdias Ionas Michaeas Nahum Abacuc Sophonias Aggaeus Zacharias Malachias And in the new Testament the Apocalips of S. Iohn the Apostle Al these Bookes are vndoubtedly Canonical as the Authores cited in the inner margent testifie And consequently al and al the partes therof are of infallible truth For otherwise as S. Augustin teacheth if anie part were false or doubtful al were vncertaine once admittiug falsehood saith he Epist 8. ad Ieroni in such soueraigne authoritie no parcel of these bookes should remaine which anie way should seme hard to maners or incredible to beleue but it might by this most pernicious rule be turned to an officious
and serue him with a perfect and verie true hart and take away the goddes which your fathers serued in Mesopotamia and in Aegypt and serue our Lord. †But if it like you not to serue our Lord choise is geuen you choose this day that which pleaseth you whom you ought especially to serue whether the goddes which your fathers serued in Mesopotamia or the goddes of the Amorrheites in whose Land you dwel but I and my house wil serue our Lord. †And the people answered and said God forbid we should leaue our Lord and serue strange goddes †Our Lord God he brought vs and our fathers out of the Land of Aegypt out of the house of seruitude and did in our sight great signes and kept vs in al the way by the which we walked and among al the peoples through which we passed †And he hath cast out al the nations the Amorrheite inhabiter of the Land which we haue entred We therfore wil serue our Lord because he is our God †And Iosue said to the people You can not serue our Lord for God is holie and a mightie aemulator neither wil he pardon your wickednes and sinnes †If you leaue our Lord and serue strange goddes he wil turne him self and wil afflict you and ouerthrow you after he hath geuen you good thinges †And the people said to Iosue No it shal not be so as thou speakest but we wil serue our Lord. †And Iosue said to the people You are witnesses that your selues haue chosen to you our Lord for to serue him And they answered Witnesses †Now therfore quoth he take away strange goddes our of the middes of you and incline your hartes to our Lord the God of Israel †And the people said to Iosue We wil serue our Lord God and wil be obedient to his preceptes †Iosue therfore in that day made a couenant and proposed to the people preceptes and iudgementes in Sichem †He wrote also al these wordes in the volume of the law of our Lord and he tooke a very great stone and put it vnder the oke that was in the Sanctuarie of our Lord †and said to al the people Behold this stone shal be a testimonie for you that it hath heard al the wordes of our Lord which he hath spoken to you lest perhaps hereafter you wil denie and lye to our Lord your God †And he dismist the people euerie one into their possession †And after these thinges Iosue the sonne of Nun the seruant of our Lord died being a hundred and ten yeares old †and “ they buried him in the coastes of his possession in Thamnathsare which is situated in the mountaine of Ephraim on the North part of mount Gaas †And Israel serued our Lord al the daies of Iosue and of the ancientes that liued a long time after Iosue and that had knowen al the workes of our Lord which he had done in Israel †The bones also of Ioseph which the children of Israel had taken out of Aegypt they buried in Sichem in part of the field which Iacob had bought of the sonnes of Hemor the father of Sichem for a hundred yong ewes and it was in the possession of the sonnes of Ioseph †Eleazar also the sonne of Aaron died and they buried him in Gabaath of Phinees his sonne which was geuen him in mount Ephraim ANNOTATIONS CHAP. XXIIII 2. They serued false goddes It is euident by this place that Thare and some other progenitors of Israel sometimes serued false goddes from which they were reduced but Abraham was euer preserued in true religion and the whole familie of Thare was therfore persecuted in Chaldea as S. Augustin sheweth li. 16. c. 13. de ciuit Likwise Theodoret q. 18. in Iosue and other both ancient and late writers teach the same as is already noted pag. 203. 30. They buried In that no mention is made of mourning for Iosue S. Hierom noteth a mysterie and a special point of Chistian doctrin It semeth to me saieth he Epist de 42. Maus mans 33. that in Marie prophecie is dead in Moyses and Aaron an end is put to the law and priesthood of the Iewes For so much as they could neither passe into the land of promise nor bring the beleuing people out of the wildernes of this world And Mans 34. Aaron sayeth he was mourned and so was Moyses Iesus is not mourned that is in the law was descentinto hel called limbus in the Gospel is passage to paradise THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF IVDGES SAINCT Hierom geuing this general rule Epist ad Eustoch virg that in reading historical bookes of holie Scripture the historie as fundation of veritie is to be loued but the spiritual vnderstanding rather to be folowed agreably therto teacheth Epist ad Paulin. that in this booke of Iudges there be as manie figures as princes of the people Neither doth he meane that there were no more but for example sake affirmeth that these Iudges raised vp after Iosue and sent of God to deliuer the people fallen for their sinnes into afflictions were types and figures of the Apostles and Apostolical men sent by Christ to propagate and defend his Church of the new Testament For albeit diuers of these Iudges were sometimes great offenders yet they were reclamed by Gods special grace and so amending their errors did great thinges to the singular honour of God and are renowmed among the holie Patriarces and Prophetes particularly praysed in bolie Scipture saying And the Iudges euerie one by his name whose hart was not corrupt Who were not auerted from our Lord that their memorie may be blessed and their bones spring out from their place and their name remaine for euer the glorie of holie men remaining to their children After Iosue therfore who it semeth guided and ruled the people 32. yeares this booke written as is most probable by Samuel shewing the famouse Actes of these Iudges of Israel prosecuteth the historie of the Church the space of 288. yeares more And may be diuided into three partes First is described in general the state of the people sometimes wel and sincerly seruing God other times falling to great sinnes in the two first chapters Secondly their offences afflictions repentance and deliuerie from their enemies are more particularly reported from the third chap. to the 17. Thirdly other special accidents which happened within the same time are recorded in the last fiue chapters THE BOOKE OF IVDGES IN HEBREW SOPHETIM CHAP. I. Vnder a general captaine of the tribe of Iuda assisted by the tribe of Simeon Israel subdueth diuers cities of the gentiles 12. Othoniel taking Cariath sepher possesseth it and marieth Calebs daughter obtainig also addition of her dowrie 21. Iebuseites yet dwel in Hierusalem with Beniamin 27. and the Chananeites with diuers of the tribes AFTER the death of Iosue the children of Israel consulted
men dying They fel and were ouerthrowen on the east side of the citie of Gabaa †And there were that were slaine in the same place eightene thousand men al most valiant warryers †Which when they had seene that were remayning of BeniamÃn they fled into the wildernes and went on to the rocke the name wherof is Remmon In that flight also stragling and going diuers waies they slew fiue thousand men And whereas they went farder they pursewed them and slew also other two thousand †And so it came to passe that al which were slaine of Beniamin in diuerse places were fiue and twentie thousand one hundred fighting men most prompt to warres †There remayned therfore of al the number of Beniamin that could escape and flee into the wildernes six hundred men and they abode in the Rocke Remmon foure monethes †But the children of Israel retyring stroke al the remaines of the citie with the sword from men euen to beastes and al the cities and villages of Beniamin the deuouring flame did consume CHAP. XXI The tribe of Beniamin is repayred 8. by foure hundred virgins reserued in the slaughter of Iabes Galaad 19. and by other virgins taken that come forth of Silo to daunce THE children of Israel sware also in Maspha and said None of vs shal geue of his daughters to the children of Beniamin to wife †And they came al to the house of God in Silo and sitting in his sight vntil euening lifted vp their voice and with great wayling beganne to weepe saying Wherfore ô Lord God of Israel is this euil done in thy people that this day one tribe should be taken away out of vs †And on the morrow rising early they built an altar and offered there holocaustes and pacifique victimes and said †Who hath not ascended in the hoste of our Lord of al the tribes of Israel For they had bound them selues with a great othe when they were in Maspha that they should be slayne which had beene wanting †And the children of Israel being moued with repentance vpon their brother Beniamin beganne to say One tribe is taken away out of Israel †whence shal they take wiues For we haue al sworne in common that we wil not geue our daughters to them †Therfore they said Who is there of al the tribes of Israel that went not vp to our Lord into Maspha And behold the inhabitantes of Iabes Galaad were found not to haue bene in that armie †At that time also when they were in Silo none of them was found there †They sent therfore ten thousand the strongest men and commanded them Goe and strike the inhabitantes of Iabes Galaad in the edge of the sword as wel their wiues as their litle ones †And this shal be it which you shal obserue Al of the male kinde and wemen that haue knowen men kil ye but the virgins reserue †And there were found of Iabes Galaad foure hundred virgins that knew not mans bedde and they brought them to the campe in Silo into the Land of Chanaan †And they sent messengers to the children of Beniamin that were in Rocke Remmon and commanded them that they should receiue them in peace †And the children of Beniamin came at that time and there were geuen vnto them wiues of the daughters of Iabes Galaad but others they found not which they might geue them in like maner †And al Israel was very sorie and repented for the killing of one tribe out of Israel †And the ancientes said What shal we doe to the rest that haue not taken wiues For al the wemen in Beniamin are dead †And we must very carefully and with great studie prouide that one tribe be not destroyed out of Israel †For our owne daughters we can not geue them being bound with an oath and a curse wherby we said Cursed be he that shal geue to Beniamin anie of his daughters to wife And they tooke counsail and said Behold there is an anniuersaire solemnitie of our Lord in Silo which is situate on the North of the citie of Bethel on the East side of the way that goeth from Bethel to Sichem and on the South of the towne of Lebona †And they commanded the children of Beniamin and said Goe and lie hidde in the vineyardes †And when you shal see the daughters of Silo come forth after the maner to lead daunses issue forth sodenly out of the vineyardes and catch of them euerie one his wife and goe into the Land of Beniamin †And when their fathers shal come and their brethren and shal beginne to complaine against you and to chide we wil say to them Haue pittie on them for they tooke them not away by the right of warryers and conquerours but when they desired to receiue them you gaue them not and on your part the fault was committed †And the children of Beniamin did as it had beene commanded them and according to their number they tooke away to them selues of those that ledde the daunses euerie one his wife and they went into their possession building cities and dwelling in them †The children of Israel also returned by their tribes and families into their tabernacles In those daies there was not a King in Israel but euerie one did that which semed right to him selfe THE ARGVMENT OF THE BOOKE OF RVTH AMONGST other thinges that happened to the people of Israel in the time of the Iudges this historie of Ruth to witt her coming from Moab her conuersion to true Religion godlie conuersation and mariage with Booz of the tribe of Iuda is recorded as a more principal matter For that not onlie king Dauid but consequently also our SAVIOVR the Redemer of mankind descended from her VVherby was fore signified that as saluation thus proceded from the Gentiles together with the Iewes so the Gentiles are made partakers of the same grace More clerly prophecied as S. Hierom noteth by Isai cap. 16. saying Send forth ô Lord the lambe the Ruler of the earth from the Rocke of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion That is from Ruth the gentile to Hierusalem or rather to the Church This mariage of Ruth came to passe about the time of Abesan Iudge The booke was written as is most probable by Samuel and is diuided into foure chapters whose contentes folow in their places THE BOOKE OF RVTH CHAP. I. By occasion of famine Elimelech of Bethleem going with his wife Noemi and two sonnes into the Land of Moab there dieth 4. His sonnes marrie wiues of that countrie and die without issue 6. Noemi returning homewardes hardly perswadeth one of her daughters in law to part from her 15. The other called Ruth wil needes goe with her professing the same God and Religion 19. So these two arriue in Betheleem IN the dayes of one Iudge when the Iudges ruled there came a famine in the Land And there went a
borders of Beniamin in the South and they shal say to thee The asses are found which thou dist goe to seeke and thy father letting goe the asses is careful for you and sayeth What shal I doe concerning my sonne †And when thou shalt depart thence and passe farder and thaâ—t come to the oke Thabor three men going vp to God into Bethel shal finde thee there one carying three kiddes and an other three manchettes of bread and an other carying a flagon of wine †And when they haue saluted thee they wil geue thee two loaues and thou shalt take them of their hand †After these thinges thou shalt come into the hil of God where the garrison of the Philisthiimes is and when thou shalt be entered there into the citie thou shalt meete there a flocke of prophetes coming downe from the excelse and before them psalterie and tymbrel and â—halme and harpe and themselues prophecying †And the Spirit of our Lord shal sease vpon thee and thou shalt prophecie with them and shalt be changed into an other man †Thefore when al these signes shal chance to thee doe whatsoeuer thy hand shal finde because our Lord is with thee †And thou shalt goe downe before me into Galgala for I wil come downe to thee that thou mayest offer oblation and immolate pacifique victimes seuen daies shalt thou expect til I come to thee and I wil shew thee what thou must doe †Therfore when he had turned away his shoulder to depart from Samuel God changed vnto him another hart and al these thinges came in that day †And they came to the foresaid hil and behold a troupe of prophetes meeting him the Spirit of our Lord seased vpon him and he prophecied in the middes of them †And al that had knowen him yesterday and the day before seing that he was with the prophetes did prophecie said to ech other What thing hath happened to the sonne of Cis what is Saul also among the prophetes †And one answered an other saying And who is their father therefore it was turned into a prouerbe What is Saul also among the prophetes †And he ceased to prophecie and came to the excelse †And Sauls vncle sayd to him and to his seruant Whitherwent you who answered To seeke the asses which when we had not found we came to Samuel †And his vncle sayd to him Tel me what Samuel sayd to thee †And Saul sayd to his vncle He told vs that the asses were found But concerning the word of the kingdom which Samuel had spoken to him he told him not †And Samuel called together the people to our Lord in Maspha †And sayd to the children of Israel Thus sayth our Lord the God of Israel I brought Israel out of Aegypt and deliuerd you from the hand of the Aegyptians and from the hand of al the kinges which afflicted you †But you this day haue reiected your God who only hath saued you out of al your euils and tribulations and you haue said Not so but appoint a king ouer vs. Now therefore stand before our Lord by your tribes and by your families †And Samuel brought al the tribes of Israel and the lotte fel on the tribe of Beniamin †And he brought the tribe of Beniamin and the kinreds thereof and it fel vpon the kindred of Metri and it came vnto Saul the sonne of Cis. They therfore sought him and he was not found †And after these thinges they consulted our Lord whether he would come thither And our Lord answered Behold he is hid at home †They ranne therefore and tooke him from thence and he stood in the middes of the people and he was higher then al the people from the shoulder and vpward †And Samuel said to al the people Certes you see whom our Lord hath chosen that there is not the like to him in al the people And al the people cried and sayd God saue the King †And Samuel spake to the people the law of the kingdom and wrote it in a booke and layd it vp before our Lord and Samuel dismissed al the people euerie one into his owne house †But Saul also departed vnto his house into Gabaa and there went with him part of the armie they whose hartes God had touched †But the children of Belial sayd What shal this fellow be able to saue vs and they despised him and brought him not presentes but he dissembled as though he heard not CHAP. XI Ammonites fighting against Iabes Galaad and the citie readie to yelde 5. Saul gathereth an armie 11. ouerthroweth the enimie 14. and is established King AND it came to passe as it were a moneth after Naas the Ammonite ascended and began to fight against Iabes of Galaad And al the men of Iabes sayd to Naas Make a league with vs and we wil serue thee †And Naas the Ammonite answered them In this wil I make a league with you that I may plucke out the right eyes of you al and may make you a reprochâ—â— al Israel †And the ancientes of Iabes sayd to him Graunt vnto vs seuen daies that we may send messengers vnto al the coastes of Israel and if there shal not be that may defend vs we wil come forth to thee †The messengers therefore came into Gabaa of Saul and they spake these wordes in the hearing of the people and al the people lifted vp their voice and wept †And behold Saul came folowing oxen out of the field and sayd What ayleth the people that they weepe And they told him the wordes of the men of Iabes †And the Spirit of our Lord seased on Saul when he had heard these wordes and his furie was exceding wrath †And taking both the oxen he cutte them into peeces and sent them into al the coastes of Israel by messengers saving Whosoeuer shal not goe forth and folow Saul and Samuel so shal it be done to his oxen Therefore the feare of our Lord inuaded the people and they went forth as it were one man †And he numbered them in Bezec and there were of the children of Israel three hundred thousand and of the men of Iuda thirtie thousand †And they sayd to the messengers that came Thus shal you say to the men that are in Iabes Galaad To morow when the sunne shal waxe hote you shal haue relife The messengers therefore came and told the men of Iabes Who were glad †And they said In the morning we wil come forth to you and you shal doe to vs whatsoeuer shal please you †And it came to passe when the morow was come Saul sette the people into three partes and entered into the middes of the campe in the morning watch and stroke Ammon vntil the day waxed hote and the rest were dispersed so that there were not left among them two together †And the people sayd to Samuel
conteyne his thankesgeuing to God for benefites receiued and prophecie of thinges to come with a catalogue of valiant men THE SECOND BOOKE OF SAMVEL WHICH WE CAL THE SECOND OF KINGES CHAP. 1. Dauid hearing that Saul and Ionathas are slaine 11. mourneth with al his familie weeping and fasting 13. causeth him to be slaine who affirmed that he had killed king Saul 18. He traineth vp archers 19. and inuiteth also al Israel to mourne AND it came to passe after that Saul was dead that Dauid returned from the slaughter of Amalec and taryed in Siceleg two dayes †And in the third day there appeared a man coming out of Sauls campe his garments torne and sprinkled on the head with dust and as he came to Dauid he fel vpon his face and adored †And Dauid said vnto him Whence comest thou Who said to him I fledde out of the campe of Israel †And Dauid said vnto him What is the matter that is done tel me Who said The people is fled out of the battel and many of the people are ouerthrowen and dead yca Saul also and Ionathas his sonne are dead †And Dauid said to the yong man that told him How knowest thou that Saul is dead and Ionathas his sonne †And the young man that told him sayd By chance I came into mount Gelboe and Saulleaned vpon his speare moreouer the chariots and horsemen approched vnto him †and turning backward and seing me he called To whom when I had answered here I am †he said to me Who art thou And I said to him I am an Amalecite †And he said to me Stand vpon me and kil me because anguishes hold me and as yet al my life is in me †And standing vpon him I killed him for I knewe that he could not liue after the fal and I tooke the Diademe that was on his head the bracelette from his arme and haue brought to thee my lord hither †And Dauid taking his garments rent them and al the men that were with him †and they mourned and wept and fasted vntil euening vpon Saul and vpon Ionathas his sonne and vpon the people of our Lord and vpon the house of Israel because they were fallen by the sword †And Dauid said to the yong man that had told him Whence art whou Who answered I am the sonne of a man a stranger of Amalec †Dauid said to him Why didst thou not feare to put to thy hand to kil the annointed of our Lord †And Dauid calling one of his seruants said Goe runne vpon him Who stroke him and he died †And Dauid said to him Thy bloud be vpon thine owne head for thyn owne mouth hath spoken against thee saying I haue slaine the annointed of our Lord. †And Dauid mourned this kind of mourning vpon Saul and vpon Ionathas his sonne †and he commanded that they should teach the children of Iuda the bowe as it is written in the Booke of the iust And he said Consider o Israel for them that be dead wounded vpon thy high places †The Nobles ô Israel are slayne vpon thy mountaynes how are the valiants fallen †Tel it not in Geth neither tel ye it in the high waies of Ascalon lest perhaps the daughters of the Philisthijms be gladde lest the daughters of the vncircumcised reioice †Mountaines of Gelboe let neither dew nor rayne come vpon you neither be they fields of the first fruits because there was the shield of the valiantes cast away the shield of Saul as though he were not annointed with oyle †From the bloud of the slaine from the fatte of the valiants the arrowe of Ionathas neuer returned backward and the sword of Saul did not returne emptie †Saul and Ionathas amiable and comely in their life in death also were not diuided swifter then eagles stronger then lyons †Yee daughters of Israel weepe vpon Saul who clothed you with scarlet in delicaces who gaue golden ornaments to your attyre †How haue the valiantes fallen in battel Ionathas bene slayne in thy high places †I am sorie for thee my brother Ionathas exceeding beautiful and amiable aboue the loue of wemen As the mother loueth her onlie sonne so did I loue thee †How haue the strong fallen and the weapons of warre perished CHAP. II. Dauid is receiued and annointed King of Iuda 5. He commendeth those of Iabes Galaad which buried Saul 8. Isboseth the sonne of Saul reigneth ouer the rest of Israel 12. whereby riseth sharpe warre betwen Abner and Ioab chief captaines of the two kinges 30. Manie more are slaine of Abners partie then of Ioabs THEREFORE after these thinges Dauid consulted our Lord saying Shal I goe vp into one of the cities of Iuda And our Lord said to him Goe vp And Dauid said Whit her shal I goe vp And he answered him Into Hebron †Dauid therefore went vp and his two wiues Achinoam the Iezrahelite and Abigail the wife of Nabal of Carmel †yea and the men also that were with him Dauid brought euery one with his houshould and they abode in the townes of Hebron †And the men of Iuda came and annoynted Dauid there to reigne ouer the house of Iuda And it was told Dauid that the men of Iabes Galaad had buried Saul †Dauid therefore sent messengers vnto the men of Iabes Galaad and sayd vnto them Blessed be you to our Lord which haue done this mercie with your lord Saul and haue buried him †And now our Lord certes wil render you mercie and truth but I also wil requite you the good turne for that you haue done this thing †Let your handes be strengthned and be yee stout men for although your lord Saul be dead yet the house of Iuda hath annointed me to be their king †But Abner the sonne of Ner prince of Sauls armie tooke Isboseth the sonne of Saul led him about through the campe †and ordained him king ouer Galaad and ouer Gessuri and ouer Iezrahel ouer Ephraim and ouer Beniamin and ouer al Israel †Fourtie yeares old was Isboseth the sonne of Saul when he began to reigne ouer Israel and he reigned two yeares and only the house of Iuda folowed Dauid †And the number of the daies that Dauid abode reigning in Hebron ouer the house of Iuda was seuen yeares and six monethes †And Abner the sonne of Ner went forth and the seruantes of Isboseth the sonne of Saul out of the campe into Gabaon †Moreouer Ioab the sonne of Saruia and the seruants of Dauid went forth and mette them beside the poole of Gabaon and when they were come together into one place they sate one ouer against an other these on the one side of the poole and they on the other †And Abner said to Ioab Let the yong men rise and play before vs. And Ioab answered Let them rise †There rose therefore and passed twelue in number
passage of Israel forth of Aegypt through the read sea in a Canticle after that he had related the same whole historie more at large in prose that al might sing and so render thankes with melodious voice and musical instruments praising God Likewise in an other Canticle he comprised the whole law a litle before his death So also Barac and Debora and after them Iudith song praises to God for their victories in verse Salomon writte the end of his Prouerbes and a whole booke intituled Canticles the Prophet Ieremie his Lamentations in verse Anna hauing obtained her prayer for a sonne gaue thankes to God with a Canticle The like did king Ezechias for recouerie of health The Prophets Isaias Ezechiel Ionas A bacuc and the three children in the fornace againe in the new Testament the B. virgin mother iust Zacharie deuout Simeon gaue thankes sang praises to God in Canticles Fourthly albeit the holie King was not permitted to build the gorgious Temple for Gods feruice as he greatly desired to haue done yet he prouided both store of muâ—itians foure thousand in number of which 288. were maisters to teach made these Psalmes as godlie dirties for this holie purpose in al solemnities of feastes and daylie sacrifice when the Temple should afterward be built Fiftly he made these Psalmes not only for his owne others priuate deuotion nor yet so especially for the publique Diuine seruice in the Temple and other Synagogues of the Iewes but most principally for the Christian Catholique Church which he knew should be spred in the whole earth Forseing the maruelous great and frequent vse therof in the Christian Clergie and Religious people of both sexes As he prophecieth in diuers Psalmes Al the earth sing to thee sing Psalmes to thy name Againe I vvil sing Psalmes to thee ô God in the Gentiles in al peoples and Nations VVhich him selfe neuer did but his Psalmes are euer since Christ song by Christians conuerted from gentilitie as we see in the Churches Seruice For the whole Psalter is distributed to be song in the ordinarie office of our Breuiarie euerie weke And though extraordinarily for the varietie of times and feastes there is often alteration yet stil the greater part is in Psalmes Certayne also of the same Psalmes are without change or intermission repeted euerie day And such as haue obligation to the Canonical Houres must at least read the whole Office priuatly if they be not present where it is song The Office also of Masse ordinarily beginneth with a Psalme In Litanies and almost al publique Prayers and in administration of other Sacraments and Sacramentals either whole Psalmes or frequent verses are inserted Likewise the greatest part of the Offices of our B. Ladie and for the dead are Psalmes Besides the seuen Poenitential and fiftene Gradual Psalmes at certaine times So that Clergie mens daly office consisteth much in singing or reading Psalmes And therfore al Byshops especially are strictly bond by a particular Conon Dist 38. cap. Omnes psallentes to be skilful in the Psalmes of Dauid and to see that other Clergiè men be wel instructed therin According to the Holie Ghosts admonition by the pen of the same Royal Prophet Psal 46. Psallite sapienter Or intelligenter that is Sing Psalmes vvith knovvlege and vnderstanding them Not that euerie one is bond to know and be able to discusse al difficulties but competently according to their charge vndertaken in Gods Church Otherwise euerie one that is or intendeth to be a Priest may remember what God denounceth to him by the Prophet Osee c. 4. Because thou hast repelled knovvlege I vvil repel thee that thou do not the function of Priesthood vnto me Thus much touching the Author the contentes the poetical stile final cause of this holie Psalter As for the name S. Ierom S. Augustin and other Fathers â—each that wheras amongst innumerable musical instruments six were more specially vsed in Dauids time mentioned by him in the last Psalme Trumpet Psalter Harpe Timbrel Organ and Cimbal This booke hath his name of the instrument called Psalter which hath tenne strings signifying the tenne commandements and is made in forme as S. Ierom and S. Bede suppose of the Greke letter Λ delta because as that instrument rendreth sound from aboue so we should attend to heauenlie vertues which come from aboue Likewise vsing the harpe which signifyeth mortification of the flesh other instruments which signifie and teach other vertues we must finally referre al to Gods glorie reioyce spiritually in hart and render al praise to God Concerning interpretation of holie Scriptures AS Prophecie or other holie Scripture was not at anie time by mans wil but the Prophetes holie men of God spake inspired by the Holie Ghost so no prophecie nor explication of Scripture is made by priuate interpretation 2. Pet. 1. but by the same Spirite wherwith it was written which our Sauiour gaue to the Church to abide for euer the Spirite of truth to teach al truth Ioan. 14. 16. Neither perteyneth it to euerie one to discerne the true spirite but to some 1. Cor. 12. Holie Scriptures consist not in reading but in vnderstanding S. Ierom Dialogo aduers Luciferianos The wordes of holie Scripture are so to be vnderstood as holie men the Sainctes of God haue vnderstood them S. Aug Ser. 18. de verb. Domini Men must lerne of men not expect knowlege immediatly of God nor only by Angels Idem in prologo Doct. Christ There be some thinges mentioned in holie Scripture which God wil haue hidden and those are not to be curiously searched S. Amb. li. 1. c. 7. de vocat Gentium By those thinges which to vs are hidden in holie Scripture our humilitie is proued S. Greg. ho. 17. super Ezech. THE BOOKE OF PSALMES PSALME I. The Royal prophet Dauid placed this Psalme as a Preface to the rest conteyning 1 true happines which consisteth in flying sinnes and seruing God 3. The good doe prosper 5. not the wicked 6. as wil appeare in the end of this world BLESSED is the man that “ hath not gone in the counsel of the impious hath not “ stoode in the way of sinners and hath not “ sitte in the chayre of pestilence †But his “ wil is in the way of our Lord and in his law he wil meditate day and night †And he shal be as a tree that is planted nigh to the streames of waters which shal geue his fruite in his time †And his leafe shal not fal and al thinges whatsoeuer he shal doe shal prosper †The impious not so but as dust which the winde driueth from the face of the earth †Therfore the impious shal not rise againe in iudgement nor sinners in the councel of the iust
a 970. Otherwise they are iniurious to Gods word b 394. They must crie and not cease b 533. 539. 678. 734. 845. 871. 935. When they haue leasure froÌ„ preaching they must imploy their labours in writing b 428. Patience much commended in the Prouerbes in manie places It kepeth from desperation b 376. and bringeth content b 849. Patriarches in the Law of nature were al Priestes and gouerned the Church a 212. They continued by perpetual succession to the Law of Moyses a 35. 50. 206. Peace is forbidden with Infideles a 2â—6 Peace is a reward of keping Gods law a 315. 856. 1017. b 233. 273. c. Peace and warre both necessarie vpon iust occasions b 321. Peacemakers rewarded b 286. Penaltie of original sinne remaineth in al mankind a 33. Penance necessarie a 32. 47. b 619. 826. 994. with contrition confession and satisfaction a 32. 685. 934. 977. Penitentes must haue humilitie and confidence a 594. 1020. 1042. 1043. People must lerne of their pastors a 215. Peregrination or pilgremage to holy places a 84. 899. Perfection in this life is to tend to perfection a 63. Persecuters loue treason not traytors a 548. b 893. Persecuters doe pretend false causes against the innocent b 618 789. 914. 930. 954. Persecution of foure sortes b 170. Persecution must be borne with patience a 74. 155. 156. 158. 750. 964. It can not hinder the Church b 17. 883. Pharao by abusing Gods benefites hardned his owne hart a 173. 178. 179. 181. 191. 582. Philo a Iew writ the Booke of wisdome before Christ b 343. Phinees killing a malefactor is not to be imitated by priuate men a 374. His zele commended b 196. 439. Pietie is preferred before lerning b 382. Pilgremage a 84. 899. Places sanctified a 140. 160. 232 259. 423. 478. 700. 785. 879. 9â—5 b 2â—3 â—46 760. Also respected by painimes b 956. Politique worldlinges persecute innocents against their conscience b 983. Prayer a 17. 31. 34â— b 715. 965. Sette forme of prayer praises a 880. 921. 935. b 965. 1002. Prayer with fasting almes a 1006. b 825. Prayer sacrifice for the dead 978. 996. It is hitherto obserued by the Iewes b 979. Prayse of Sainctes and good men redoundeth to Gods praise b 937. Preaching a necessarie office of Pastors b 533. 539. 678. 734. 845. 850. 853. 871. 886. 935. Predestination supposeth the meanes of iustification and saluation a 84. 201. Prerogatiues of man in his creation a. 5. Presumption of proper strength depriueth men of Gods assistance b 909. 995. Pryde is the roote of al sinnes b 387. Priesthood a 32. 47. 274. b 994. Priesthood and Law stand and are changed together a 32. 326. Priests proper office is to offer sacrifice a 57. 276. 295. Priestes consult God for others a 486. They are called goddes a 171. High Priest called Prince a 304. and Princes called Priestes a 651. 677. 859. Pagan Priestes much esteemed in their owne nations a 143. No priest at al amongst Protestantes a â—6 Princes of euerie familie in the law of nature were Priestes a 212. Procession made by Priestes people a 479. Prodigalitie dissipateth that which the wise gathereth b 300. Prodigees are signes of Gods wrath b 958. Promises of God are conditional a 415. 496. 905. Prophecie is a principal diuine benifite geuen to few for the good of manie b 449. Prophecies are called visions b 450. and are certaine b 718. 736. Light of Prophecie is more clere then the light of faith b 450. Euerie Prophet perfectly vnderstandeth that he is illuminated b 797. None can prophecy but by Gods illumination b 510. Prophecie vttered conditionally is true though the euent folow not b 620. Prophets visions are limited a 789. Al prophetes most principally speake of Christ b 449. manie Prophetes are hard to be vnderstood b 450. 675. 749. 797. 803. 8â—3 844. Why they are obscure b 451. Manie Prophecies are vttered in factes a 731. b 570. 580. 595. 628. 69â— 815. Foure greater Prophetes and twelue lesse b 809. Propitiatorie of God a 229. 293. 342. Protestantes doctrine concerning hardning of hart a 171. Prouerbes are common briefe pithie sentences b 268. The booke of Prouerbes perteyneth particularly to beginners Ecclesiastes to such as procede and the Canticles to the perfect in pietie b 333. Prouidence of God in mens actions a 136. 166. 176. b 262. c. Prudence requisite in al actions a 137. 1043. b 427. Prudence in disposing souldiars to fight fortifieth the armie b 928. Prudence chooseth the lesse danger or euil in distresse 937. Psalmes and Canticles are more special praises of God b 11. Psalmes 150. al made by Dauid b 3. 4. 19. 174. 176. The whole booke called the Psalter b 13. It is a Summe of al other Scriptures b 5. the Key of al other Scriptures b 6. It selfe hath tenne keyes or principal Articles of Diuine doctrine b 7. 8. It is composed in verse b 9. more ancient then any prophane Poetrie now extant b 10. It was written for manie causes especially for Diuine seruice in the old and new Testament b 11. 12. 109. Manie Psalmes perteine to the new Testament b 21. Seuen last Psalmes instruct more particularly how to praise God b 260. Number of Psalmes mystical b 266. Titles of the Psalmes were added by Esdras and the Septuagint b 19. Bishops are bound to be skilful in Dauids Psalter Other Priestes to haue competent knowlege therin b 13. 93. Punishment for sinne a 15. 23. 33. 69. 656. 685. 1088. 1091. b 101. 376. 383. 705. Purgatorie a 33. 711. b 24. 77. 384. See Prayer for the dead Puâ—illanimitie in a superior is iniustice b 391. In al others a sinne contraâ—ie to iust zele b 417. Pythagoras taught transmigration of soules b 1000. Q Quales were sent miraculously amongst the Israelites a. 207. 347. b 193. Queene of Saba visited Salomon and admired his wisdome a 727. R Rachel a figure of the Catholique Church a 103. She was buried in Bethlehem a 111. Her weeping was prophetical b 603. Rahab deliuered two Israelites from danger a 472. Rainbow was before Noes floud but was afterwards set for a signe of Gods mercie a 38. Razias killing himself is not to be imitated b 984. Rechabites a religious order b 613. 995. Recidiuation aggrauateth sinnes b 611. Redemption by Christ a 12. c. b. 16. c. See Christ Relaxation of the captiuitie foreshewed b. 747. performed b 933. 944. c. Religious orders a 335. 545. b 613. 995. Reliques a 153. 191. 290. b 949. 996. Remission of sinnes a. 294. 577. 926. c. Remission of iniuries with discretion a 1048. Repentance necessarie a. 32. 47. 1074. b. 65. 465. See Penance Restitution a 223. 270. Resurrection a 34. 48. 203. 712. 936. 1083. b 49. 485. 546. 743. 996. Rewardes of good woorkes a 76. 1102. b 199. 393. 395. 448. 543. 579. Rewardes temporal in the old Testament a 157. 190. 451. 682. Rocke of the Church is Christ who also
Gen. 24. :: Iosue being a prophet saw some of their hartes inclined to idoles though exteriorly they then had none among them S. Aug. q. 29. in Iosue :: This renouation of the same couenaÌ„t presigured the law of the new Testament S. Aug. q. 30. in Iosue :: To the more confusion of reasonable creatures wilfully offending vnsensible things are made witnesses because they euer obey Gods wil which is the best maner of hearing Theod. q. 19. in Iosue :: If Iosue writ the rest of this booke then Samuel added these last verses Hist Sâ—hol :: Iosephs Mausoleum oâ— famous sepulchre remained in Sichem in S. Hieroms time as he wit nesseth Tradit Hebra in Gen. prope sinem Gen. 5â— â—xo 13. Thare sometime serued false goddes but Abraham neuer Before Christ none entered into heauen A rule for reading historical bookes The Iudges of Israel figures of Christs Apostles They were al finally holie men Eâ—â—li 4â— The Contents of this booke Diuided into three partes The first part A geneâ—al recapitulation of the peoples state :: The maner of consulting our Lord was by the High priest praying in the tabernacle Exo. 29. v. 42. :: The first general captaine after Iosue and diuers of the Iudges were of the tribe of Iuda but not al as appeareth in this booke :: Strong weapons crooked like sickles made fast to the chariottes which cut in peeces men horses and other chariottes that came in their way :: An Angel taking the forme of a man as before to Iosue ch 5. so now appearing to the people spake to them in the name of God whose messenger he was :: By special dispensation sacrifice was sometimes lawfully offered in other places though the Tabernacle and afterward the Temple was the onlie place commanded Deut. 12. Iosue 22. S. Aug. q. 36. in Iudic. :: These Iudges were extraordinarily raised vp to deliuer the people repenting when they were fallen into afflictioÌ„s for their sinnes The second part Of the common peoples often falling to idolatrie their repentance and deliuetie :: In manie places we see the worde sauiour and like titles geuen to men as the seruantes and officers of God who is the proper and principal Sauiour of al. S. Aug. q. 18. in Iudic. :: In these 40. yeares are included the eight yeares of their seruitude v. 8. so in the rest of this historie otherwise the number of yeres agreeth not with the count 3. Reg. 6. v. 1. :: Aod hauing special inspiration from God to do this fact as S. Augustin noteth vpon these wordes q 20. in Iudic. is not to be imitated by priuat men See Num. 25. v. 11. :: Being a prophetesse she resolued hard and obscure thinges but exercised no iurisdiction in anie causes for that belonged to the councel of Priestes and of seuentie ancientes where the high priest was the chief Iudge Num. 11. Deut. 17. Spiritually Debbora signified the Church Barac christian Princes who are directed in their warres and other actions by spiritual superiors as Origen and other ancient writers expouud this historie :: VVho is this woman ful of confidence piercing the temples of the enimies head with a naile but the faith of the Church destroying the diuels kingdomes with the crosse of christ S. Aug. li. 12. â— 32. cont Iaust Manich. Iabel also prefigured our B. Ladie who crushed the serpentes head :: The greater blesse the lesse by imparting spiritual benefites so God and superiors blesse their subiectes Men blesse God the lesse their betters by geuing thankes and prayses :: She inculcateth that she must so much more praise God for this victorie because he forshewed it by her by her directed the general captaine Barac lest it might be ascribed either to wisdome or valure of anie man :: Those that subdew their bodies to the spirite ride vpon fayre asses Origen hom 6. in c. 5. Iudic. :: Iahel the figure was blessed amongst wemen much more the most holie virgin mother of God is blessed aboue alwemen :: S. Augustin q 31. in Iudic. supposeth that this messenger sent from God called a man a prophete for the forme wherin he appeared was the same Angel which sate vnder the oke and sent Gedeon to deliuer Israel v. 11. 12. c. :: He meant not to offer sacrifice to the Angel but that either the Angel or himselfe in presence of the Angel should offer it to God and so in dede the Angel partly directed him what to do partly executed the office himselfe by touching the oblation with his rodde and miraculously bringing fire to consume the sacrifice :: An altar for a monument not for sacrifice :: The strength of Baal or stronger then Baal :: Dew first in the fleece and after on the ground signified grace and true religion first in one people after in al nations Sainct Amb. Ser. 13. de Natal Dom. Venr Beda qq in Iudic. c. 4. Also Christs Incarnation without detriment of his mothers virginitie of whose grace al are replenished S. Bernard ho. 2. in Missus est :: Obseruation of dreames is generally forbid Leuit. 19. v. 26. Deut. 18 v. 10. yet here and in other places it is euident God would haue some obserued See Annot. Gen. 40. :: These thinges were ridiculous saieth venerab Beda c. 5. qq in Iudic. if they had not bene terrible to the enemies :: It is no derogation to God that honour is also geuen to his seruantes :: Trumpetes signified preachers of Christ pitchers the bodies of Martyres lampes their vertues and miracles Vener Beda qq in Iudic. c. 5. :: A soft answer breaketh anger hard speach stirreth vp furie Prou. 15. :: Zebee and Salmana were not of anie of the seuen nations whom God commanded to destroy and therfore Gedeon might haue spared their liues if he would :: Kinges may do ante thing not contrarie to the law but Iudges Dukes may onlie do according to the law See 1. Reg. 8. :: His handmaide oâ— seruant not a harlotte to wit such a one as had not the priuiledge of a wife as Gen. 25. v. 6. :: This sonne of Gedeon by his seruant prefigured Antichrist who wil persecute the Church and reigne for a while but in the end shal be destroyed S. Beda c. 6. qq in Iudic. :: True pastores in the time of Antichrist wil still auouch the truth and the right of the Church :: Oyle spiritually signifieth the grace of the Holie Ghost making peace of conscience in mens soules towardes God :: The swetnes of Gods law producing good workes :: Contemtible in outward shew but bringing forth liquour of meruelous force which sorte of workes God is most delighted withal and men most admire Psal 85 :: The rhamnus signifieth base and ambicious men * brierre bramble â—rthistle :: God doth suggest only good cogitations as remoâ—â—e of conscience in the secheâ—â—tes for their ingratitude towardes Gedeon and for so wicked and cruel a murder of his sonnes
Iosue had forbid the building therof Iosue â— The Epistle 〈◊〉 Teusday in the 2. weke of Lent The epistle 〈◊〉 Friday in the 4. weke of Lent To this question sayth S. Augustin the prophet answered in spirite No. For God killed not this childe to afflict so good a mother but to confirme her in true religion comforte her by raysing him from death So Lazarus died not to remaine dead but to be raysed to life for Gods more glorie Ioan. 11. v. 4. S. Aug li. 2. q. 5. ad Simplicia :: Abdias adored Elias as the prophete of God and a holie man not with ciuil honour for in the world Abdias was the greater person nor with diuine honour for that had benne idolatrie It was therfore religious honour called dulia due to spiritual excellencie of Gods seruantes :: Such zelous expostulation is necessarie to al Nentrals in religion who are neither hoto nor cold but luke vvaâ—me such as Angels detest Apoc. 3. :: VVhen miracles are attempted for trial of the truth the diuels powre is restrayned only the truth is testified Our Lord vvorking â—â—â—thal confirming the doctrin vvith sigâ—â—â— folovving 〈◊〉 vlt. :: Elias knew no other at that instant in the tenne tribes that were not partakers in idolatrie but there were in deede seuen thousand v. 18 that bowed not their knees to Baal And the whole kingdom of Iuda obserued true religion where Asa then reigned and after him Iosaphat both good kinges chap. 15. v. 11. 22 v. 43. 2. Par. 15. 17. :: Elias prophecied that these two should be kinges and cast his cloke ouer Elizeus v. 19. Elizeus declared to Hazael that he should be king 4. Reg. 8. an other prophet annointed Iehu 4. Reg. 9. Those that are girded strongly armed do not wisely in trusting their owne strength and contemning their aduersaries for by so doing they are often ouerthrowne And those that distrusting them selues trust in God one way or other alwaies preuaile A necessarie lesson both in temporal and spiritual warfayre :: Manie victories and other benefites were besiâ—wed vpon Achab to make him knowe God but he coÌ„temning them al remained in his impietie and finally was slaine ch 22 v. 38. :: Foolish pittie in sparing a dangerous common enimie is offensiâ—â—e to God seuerely punished by his iustice :: If no subiect were lord of anie land but only at the kings pleasure kinges were proper lordes of al the landes in their kingdomes then Achab might haue taken Naboths vinyard especially geuing him a better or money for it Neither was it a vaine scruple in Naboth to conserue his ancesters inheritance For both his denial is here iustified and Achabs extortion coâ—â—â—mned S. Ambrose li. 3. offic c. 9. counteth Naboth a Martyr See Annot. 1. Reg. 8. :: To auoide horrore of blasphemie holie scripture often vseth the terme blessing for cursing * chap. 22. v. 38. :: So addicted to wickednes as if he had solde him selfe to the diuel for some temporal profite or pleasure In your iniquities you are solde Isaiae 50. S. Aug. q. 102. ex vtro test S. Greg. 〈◊〉 10. in Ezech. :: The godlie King Iosaphat iustly suspecting the schismatical sâ—â—â—e prophetes aduised the other King to coÌ„sult a true prophet of God :: Fals prophetes imitate true prophetes in some exterior thinges to make their prophecies seme more authentical Such hornes appeared in a prophetical vision to Zacharie the prophet Zach. 1. v 18. :: The prophet geueth not this for a resolute answer but seing the king wil goe he prayeth he may go prosperously And the king conceiueth no otherwise of his answer and therfore vrgeth him to answer resolutly in the next wordes I adiure thee c. :: The coherence of the text sheweth that God only permitted but commanded not the diuel to deceiue Achab So S. Augustin li. 2. q. vlt. ad Simplic S. Greg. li. 2. c. 21. Moral and other fathers explicate this like places VVhen this false prophet heard that the kiÌ„g was slaine he hidde him selfe fearing the kings sonnes that they would kil him Iosephus li. 8. c. 14 Antiq :: It happened by chance in respect of the archers intentioÌ„ but otherwise by Gods prouidence directing his hand So Achabs craftic perswading Iosaphat to put on his kinglie attyre v. 30. him self fighting in vulgar armour saued him not from iust reuenge The kingdom of Iuda conserued in Dauids seede Many royal families beguÌ„ne and destroyed in the kingdom of Israel This booke diuided into two partes The first part Of thinges donne in both kingdomes with the declination and â—â—ine of Israel :: Elias was knowen by his much hayre and distinct habite from ordinary men :: In zele of iustice Elias procured fire from heauen to burne these proud capitaines and their men as he procured fire to burne the holocaust and then â—lew the falsprophetes 3. Reg. 18. apud Aug. li. 2. c. 20. de mirabil â— Script * ayre or lovver heauen VVhither Elias was carried being taken vp into the ayre is vncertain but certaine that he yet liueth and must dye As S. Augustin teacheth li. 9. c. 6. de Gen. ad lit See Annot. in Gen. 6 Apocalip 11. :: He desired not duble spirite to his master but the duble spirite of prophecying and of working miracles which Elias had v. â—5 :: They adored him for his ho lines and because God had geuen him the spirit of so great a prophete not for wordlie but spiritual excel lencie therfore not with ciuil but religious honour :: It was forbiâ— Deut. 20. to cut downe fruict trees in the land of Chanaan which the Israelite should possesse but the land of Moab perteyned not to them and â—oâ— was â—ot prohibited to anâ—y that countrie vpon iust offence The Epistle on Teusday in the third weke of Lent The Epistle on Thursday in the 4. weke of Lent :: God sent his law by his seruant and it auailed not to mankinde dead in sinnes But he coming accommodating himself to our infirmitie participating our death we are quicned So S Augusting mystically applieth this figuratiue miracle to Christ and his Church li. 1â— c. â—5 cont Fast Manich and manielike thinges of the old Testament he sheweth to be figures of the new The Epistle on Munday in the 3 weke of Lent :: In respect of Gods special electing and saÌ„ctifying the land of Chanaan by his true religion Naaman rightly estemed that earth fitter for an altar then the earth of his owne countrie :: Giezi prefigured Iudas the false Apostle of Christ and al those that buy or sel spiritual thinges for money who by their auarice lose Gods grace and gaine infamie in this world and eternal damnation in the next S. Aug. ser 208. de tempore The case of going to heretical seruice and Naamans going to the temple of an idol differ in diuers respectes Difference of times Mat. 10. Of places Rom. 1. 2. Pet. 1. Of
Ostriches :: Falcons or Ierfalcons other haukes :: Horses are of singular great corege :: Haukes wherof Aristotel saith there be ten kindes pliâ—â—e sixtene :: Eagles of most strong sight :: If we discusse al Iobs wordes saith S. Gregorie we shal find nothing wickedly spoken but only smale speâ—ce of pride in speaking too much of his owne afflictioÌ„ and too litle of Gods goodnes towards him li. 23. c. 1. :: Though Iob had truly auouched that his sinnes deserued not so great afflictions yet he ought to haue acknowleged that God afflicted him iustly for some other cause knowne to God but vnknoweÌ„ to him which he not confessing semed to make Gods iudgement vniust or of none effect S. Greg. li. 32. c. 3. :: An Elephant the greatest of al beastes of long life strong meke tâ—n perate chaist ouercome by the Vnicorne or Dragon or taken by the nose ledde away How much more doth Gods prouidence geue man powre to ouercome the diuel :: An huge great fish perhaps the whale exceding mans powre to be managed yet is subiect as also the diuel signified therby to Gods powre and prouidence :: God ruleth al his creatures not with crueltie as a tyranne but with iustice ease and powre :: God at last destroyeth him whom man can not ouercome :: Angels with reuerent feare doe honour Gods powre And valient mariners and other soldiars are terrified when they see this so huge a fish Mystically Gods preachers and perfectest seruantes shal naturally feare the terrour of Gods iudgement :: And the diuel reigneth ouer proude men S. Greg. li. 34. c 4. 17. :: Iob here simply ackowledged his error in speaking so much in defence of his owne innocencie and so litle of Gods prouidence in afflicting him for his more merite and Gods more glorie :: Before he defended a truth against his opposite freindes now with more resignation he contented himself with his affliction :: Iob did penance both for himself and others :: In that he had al other thinges duble and children in the same number as before it is a signe that the former perished not but died in good state God by his sentence condemned the error of Iobs freindes and iustified his assertion Errors ought not to beholden stil being once condemned Much lesse raised againe being hertofore buried S. Aug. deside oper S. Cyprian li. 4. ep 2. Apud Euseb li. 6. c. 35. Gen. 2. 4 7 Exod. 23. Deut. 15. Numbers mystical Great or manie sacrifices for great offences Deuotion of him that offereth sacrifice increaseth the effect Prayers of holie men or Sainstes derogate not from Christ VVhy we haue made few annotations in this booke The argument of this historie Iob in prosperitie was tempted inuisibly more then ordinary men of lower state or lesse perfection 2. Tim. 3. Much more by losse of al his goodes and children in one day Most of al by bodilie affliction And reuiling of his wife Holie Iob lamented his affliction and the general miseries of man VVhere Iob expected comforth in tribulation the diuel procured him more affliction Iob sore afflicted in bodie had nine seueral confflictes about the cause therof before it was decided The first conflict The maine point of the controuersie The second conflict The ground of these mens error The third conflict The fourth conflict The fifth conflict The sixth conflict The seuenth conflict The eight conflict The ninth conflict Newest Sectaries hold themselues the wisest Especially these of our dayes that relie ech one vpon his owne priuate spirite In the tenth place God decided the controuersie Penitentes pardoned Iob rewarded The literal sense of this historie Aliegorical Anagogical Moral Holie Iob proceded by degrees to perfect patience This booke vndoubtedly is canonical Scripture Late Hebrew Doctors and some Catholiques hold diuers authors of sundry Psalmes Prefat in Psal Epist 134. 139. It is much more probable that Dauid was author of al. Proued by S. Augustin S. Chrysostom and greatest part of Doctors Mat. 22. v. 16. Act. 4. v. 24. Ro. 4. v. 6. Ro 11. v. 9. Heb. 4. v. 7. The common voice of Christians some general councels cal it Dauids Psalter Proued by other Scriptures S Ierom attributeth the summe of this booke to Dauid only The Psalmes are a Summe of al other Scriptures Mat. 5. 7. 11. 22. Luâ— 16. S. Greg. in Psal penitent They coÌ„teine the summe of Legal Historical Sapientiential and Prophetical doctrine Gods prouidence in sweetly drawing our consent cooperation of freewil which is necessarie to saluation Ser. 15. de verb. Apost S. â—asil in prâ—log Apoc. 5. Holie Scriptures a sealed booke li. 4 dialogi c. 42. The Psalter is the key of other Scriptures Iac. 5. But it self is also sealed But one principal key of ech Psalme Tenne keyes of the Psalter Also tenne stringes 1. Key One God the B. Trinitie 2. Gods workes 3. Gods prouidence 4. The Hebrew people 5. Christ our Redemer 6. Conuersion of Gentiles the Catholique Church 7. Faith good workes 8. Dauids owne actes 9. General Resurrection Iudgement 10. Eternal glory and paine Foure wayes to find the proper key of euerie psalme 1. By the title 2. Allegation in the new Testament 3. Greatnes of thinges affirmed 4. Conference of places li. 3 c. 4. de pecca merit The stile of this booke is Poetrie Abuse derogateth not from good thinges Dauids Psalter more ancient then any profane poetrie now extant Musike very ancient Gen. 4. Sacred poetrie most excelleÌ„t Prefat VVhy King Dauid wâ—â—â—te diuine poetrie The first cause his natural inclination to musike 1. Reg. 16. v. 23. 2. Verse more easie more plesant Eccli 40. S. Aug. S. Basil in Praeâ—at 3. Most special great and memorable thinges writte in verse Exo. 1â— Deut. 32. Iudic 5. Iudith 16. Prou 31. 1. Reg. 2. Isa 38. Isa 12. 26. Ezeâ—h 38 Iaâ— 2. Abac. 3. Dan. 3. Luc. 1. 2. Câ—ticles in the new Testament 4. Both diuine musike and dirtie in Gods temple 1. Parâ— 23 25. 5. The great vse of these Psalmes in the Catholique Church 56. 117. 65. The whole Psalter in the ordinarie office eâ—â—â—â—â— weke Certaine Psalmeâ— euerie day 4. 30. adv 7 53 62. 66. 90. 94. 118. 133. 148. 149 150. Many Psalmes in other Ecclesiastical offices Bishops bond to be skilful in Dauids Psalter Other Priestes to haue competent knowlege therin VVhy this booke is called the psalter Other instrumentes make consorte with the Psalter Al vertues are referred to Gods honour Scriptures are to be expounded by the coÌ„mon spirit of the Church not by priuate men They consist in vnderstanding Holy Fathers do best expound them Some Mysteries are hidden They proue our humilitie The right maner of seruing God The 7. key a He is in the right way to eternal felicitie b not continued to euil suggestions Mat. 5. c not continued in sinne d not finally persisted in wicked life e He is wholly occupied delighted in keeping
him in that solemnitie But this voice of our Lord vpon vvaters is rather verified of our Blessed Sauiours owne preaching with g maiestie h thundering by his Apostles vpon i manie vvaters manie nations k in povvre of miracles l in magnificence preaching as hauing in dede powre not as the Sâ—râ—hes and Pharises Mat. 7. v. 29. m breaking cedars among innumerable others conuerting highest Potentates n of Libanus Emperoures kinges and greatest Princes of the world o as a calfe of Libanas so meekly submitting them selues to Christs yoke and spiritual obedience of his Church p Al which is done by Christ our Lord the beloved of God q as the sonne of vnicornes is most tenderly beloued by the parentes r This voice of our Lord diuiding the flame of fire the Holie Ghost proceding from the Father and the Sonne came vpon the Apostles as in diuided tongues of fire Å¿ wherwith the dâ—â—â—rt the Gentiles of the wide and wild world vvere shaken and moued t the desert of Cades some of the Iewes also compunct in hart with remorse of conscience hearing the voice of S. Peter and other Apostles v The same voice of our Lord preparing hartes inspiring the mindes of men with spede like hyndes and does to ascend the high hilles of free and perfect life in contemplatiue vertues vv So our Sauiour shal discouer the thicke vvoodes reueile the hidden Mysteries of the old Law by preaching Christian doctrine and vse of Christian Religion x in his holie Temple the Catholique Church wherin al true Christians shal glorifie God y making the great abundance of people who are like the sea vvhen it ouerflovveth the land to dwel in the same Church z Christ our Lord sitting ruling king ouer al foreuer a by his grace geuing streingth to his people to passe through the tentations of this life b and blesse the iust vvith eternal peace in heauen 〈…〉 Dauid rendereth thankes for his establishment in his kingdome The 8. key a The general name of Psalme common to this whole booke conteyning in al 150. is more particularelie appropriated to some which more specially were playde vpon musical instruments as on the Psalter Harpe c. Others are called Canticles which were most vsuallie songue with humaine voices So this called a Psalme of Canticle signifieth that voyces begane the musike and instruments were adioyned As contrariwise others are called Canticles of Psalmes where instruments begane and voices folowed b After manie great tribulations King Dauid prospering built an excellent house or palace 2. Reg. 5. v. 11. Paralip 14. v. 1. And at his first dwelling therein made this Psalme beginning himselfe to sing the same with voice other musitians ioyned with him in the praises of God and thankesgeuing for his benefites c Though God in himselfe is most high and neither nedeth nor can be exalted by men yet the royal prophet knew it vvas his dutie to sing thankes and praises to him d for his deliuerie from manie trubles and dangers e not suffering his enemies to be delighted in his ruine f conserued my bodie in health amoÌ„gst innumerable dangers g Preserued my soule from greater daÌ„gers of sinnes and so from hel h Ye that are iust and holie praise God for it from vvhom it cometh and not from your selues i confesse his mere goodnes vvithout your desertes k vvhen he is angrie l yet he meaneth vvel vnto vs. m The state of a iust mans life is often changed from sorovv to comforte and from comforte to sorovv n Though vve suppose our selues firmly established o yet God of his good vvil tovvardes vs sometimes geueth strength and corege p sometimes suffereth vs to our ovvne vveakenes q therfore we must stil crie and pray for Gods helpe r in manner here expressed of the like Å¿ finally in this my good state t I shal alvvayes confesse and praise thee How to pray in affliction The 7. key a Perteyning to the new Testament b especially to the iust trubled and almost distracted in mind in great affliction See v. 23. c How greuously soeuer I am afflicted yet I trust in thee d therfore I pray thus 〈◊〉 70. e I offer and resigne my selfe to thee f The first preceptis to lerne of our elders â—â—â— 23. g not suffered me to be shut vp h al my partes external and internal body and mind are trubled i My freindes dare not conuerse with me lest they incurre displeasure for my sake k Make thy â—â—â—ht so â—hine in my soule that I may vnderstand that is right l and through thy mercie deliuer me from the force of myne aduersaries m 〈…〉 ly â—â—hauing themselues â—â— if they had no superior neither in earth nor in heauen to whom they shal at last render account n and abusing their present powre and authoritie which they haue of God o As yet in this present life the reward of the iust is hidde p but shal be made manifest in sight of al men q In the meane time the iust is in great estimation in the secrete knowledge of God r title of honoure as we speake to a king your maiestie or to a noble man your Lordâ—hippe Å¿ in myn extreme affliction being almost distracted in my mind I said that in reason I would not haue sayd Holie Iob spake some thinges in such state of affliction ch 3. 42. t the prophet or other iust person exhorteth al the seruants of God v to constancie vv long animitie x and final perseuerance to the end The second poeâ—â—tential Psalme The 7. key a This Psalme sheweth how Dauid was brought to vnderstand his sinnes to confesse bewayle and obtaine remission of them b The first blessing of a sinner is the forgeuenes of his sinnes â—om 4. â— Pâ—â— 4. c by charitie which couereth themultitude of sinnes 1. Pet. 4. d Satisfaction beâ—â—g made e VVhen sinners repent sincerly without guile then God forgeueth without which cooperation nonâ— is iustified f because I acknowledged not my greuous sinnes I was stil sore afflicted “ Waxed as if they vvere old g though otherwise I ceased notto pray but without any fruict or good effect h thy diuine prouidence reducing me i by remorse of myn owne conscience which telleth me that I deserue al this affliction k therfore I do no longer disseÌ„ble with men nor am silent to thee but expresly acknowlege my sinnes l As I do now recal my selfe being stricken with Gods heauie hand so must euerie one that wil be purged from his sinnes and sanctified pray to thee when he is afflicted m Though calamities be meruelous great like to a diluge n yet they shal not opresse him that relieth vpon God o God speaketh promising by these tribulations to geue his seruants vnder standing and instruction p with perpetual protection q Be not therfore careles like to brute beastes but consideratiue of your actions r The Prophet or anie iust soul besecheth God to held this
parente his vvrath must nedes be very great to euerie sinner for his ovvne proper sinnes p The hope of glorious resurrection turneth our calamities into spiritual ioy q Yea the more we suffer in this life for the truth the greater is our comforth in hope of reward r Not only in that we are thy creatures but also in that we are thy seruants we are thy proper worke therfore in both these respectes ô God looke vpon vs with clemencie ſ lead also our posteritie into the right way and make them thy seruantes t O God illuminate our vnderstanding v make our actions by thy grace profitable to vs. vv and make perfect in vs the worke of charitie In which one worke al good workes are included and to which al other are directed For then workes are right sayth S. Angustin when they are directed to this one end Gods prouidence the 3. key a Praise of Gods prouidence with thankes b Which Dauid songue with voice c He that firmely relieth and resteth vpon Gods prouidence is assuredly protected by him d Al secret and sutle machinations e and from al crueltie of tyrants f Terrors obscurly suggested by euil men or spirites with erronions conceipte that men are not bond in time of temporal dangers to confesse the truth g Open persecution threatning present death except men denie the truth which they know h circumuention of craftie enimies by sutle arguing and drawing men into error and so to decline from Catholique Religion i long torments euen to death except Gods seruants wil relent and denie the truth which they assuredly beleue and know in their conscience that they are bond to professe it k On thy left side in aduersitie manie fal from God l on thy right side in prosperitie manie more forgete and forsake God m In sincerely sayng thou art my hope thou makest God thy refuge n Angels haue protection of men by Gods ordinance o The diuel corruptly alleageth this scripture Mat. 4 omitting the latter part of this verse which sheweth when Angels protect iust men towitte when they walke in a right path obseruing ordinarie course in their actions not in geuing themselues headlong into needles danger as the same diuel proposed to our Sauiour to cast himself downe from the pinnacle of the temple Such falling is not the way of the iust but of Lucifer that fel from heauen So S. Bernard noteth Ser. 15. in hunc Psal p God speaketh the rest that foloweth in this Psalme q In eternal saluation Foure sortes of persecution for the Catholique faith 1. 2. 3 4 God leaueth none but those that first leaue him The vvorkes of God admirable the 2. key a Voices beginning instrumentes prosecute this song b when we rest from worke then especially vve ought to thincke vpon Gods vvorkes praise and thanke him for the same c To geue thankes d In prosperitie e in aduersitie f On euerie instrument of tenne stringes signifying the obseruation of the tenne commandments g namely on the Psalter h also on the harpe which signifieth mortification i Carnal and sensual man k he that thinketh only of present thinges not of future l The iust in confidence of a good conscience expect exaltation of their powre m and great consolation in the end of their life n Then shal the iust see their enimies depressed and themselues florish like the palme and ceder trees as folovveth o Militant Church p triumphant q Publikly professe Gods praeises as in the wordes folowing Perpetuitie of the Church the 6. key a Praise to be songue vvith voice b composed by Dauid c the sixth day of the weeke vvhich is our friday d in vvhich day the Church of Christ vvas founded by his bloud shed on the crosse f gloriously escending in soule into limbus and in bodie to his graue g he then put on al armour of strength strength to reforme the world and to inlarge his kingdom according to his owne prediction where he saide If I be exalted from the earth I wil draw al thinges vnto myselfe Ioan. 12. v. 31. Our Sauiour founding his Church by his death begane then to reigne therin h Not only in Iurie and Samaria but the whole earth i and the same Church shal not be destroyed k Christ being eternal hath an euerlasting Church l Al sortes of persecuters the High priestes who sometimes vvatered the spiritual land like riuers vvith Scribes Pharises and other incredulous Ievves also Paganes Turkes and Heretikes haue oppugned the Church m With more force then anie persecutions in the old Testament n but though al these assaultes be great and meruelous yet Christ in protecting his Church is more meruelous o Articles of faith are not euidently apparent to knovvlege but euident to credibilitie to those that are disposed by Gods grace illuminating their vnderstanding and mouing their free vvil to geue consent of beleefe if they vvil p It behoueth therfore al members of the Church to conuerse piously and religiously in this life seing she hath so excellent a spouse protector and instructor q euen to the end of the vvorld Eternal saluation and damnation the 10. key a The Hebrevv letter Lamed vvhich ordinarily is prefixed to the datiue case or signifieth to being set before proper names is a signe of the genetiue case Yet the Septuagint expresse it by the datiue and so doth the latin ipsi Dauid and consequently our English hath to Dauid himselfe to shevv a difference betvven sacred and profane vvriters For in humane bookes the vvriter and auctor is al one but in diuine the Holie Ghost is the proper auctor and a man is the vvriter To signifie therfore the principal auctor Dauid is sometimes named as the instrumental cause to vvhom the Holie Ghost inspired this and other Psalmes and by vvhom they vvere vvritten And vvhen the titles expresse othervvise A Psalme of Dauid yet it is so to be vnderstood that the Holie Ghost is alvvayes the principal auctor and Dauid the instrumental ministerial or secondarie auctor But vvhen other names are expressed either in the genetiue or datiue case or hovvsoeuer it proueth not that those men vvere the vvriters of the same Psalmes but importeth some other thing as by S. Augustins iudgement vve noted in the proemial Annotations page 3. 4. vvherby is proued that this Psalme vvas not written nor composed by Moyses as Hebrevv Rabbins suppose but by the Royal Psalmist Dauid b Made and ordinarily songue in the sourth day of the vveke our vvenesday in vvhich day Iudas the traitor sold our Sauiour Christ to his enimies The reuenge of vvhich vvickednes and of al other sinnes is here prophecied c God more commonly called the God of mercie vvhich vertue in him is aboue al his vvorkes Psal 144 is also the God of reuenges according to his iustice d He procedeth in iudgement resolutly not depending nor fearing not respecting anie person povvre
Catullus and Cerenus soundeth out Christ vvith harpe tenne stringed Psalter rising vp from hel so attributing the summe of this whole booke to the Royal Prophet Dauid as if he supposed no other author Touching therfore the argument or contentes of this diuine Psalter al Catholique Doctors vniformly agree that it is the abridgement summe and substance of al holie Scriptures both old and new Testament As may first be probably collected by that Christ himselfe often comprehending al the old Testament by the termes of the Law and Prophetes in one place Luc. 24. v. 44. semeth not onlie to reduce al to the Lavv and Prophetes iointly but also to the Psalmes alone or seuerally But whether this be our Sauiours diuine meaning or no in that place out of this and manie other places al the ancient Fathers teach expresly that the Psalmes are an Epitome of al other holie Scriptures For example S. Denys li de Eccles Hierar contemplat 2. after brief recital of the contents of other holie Scriptures saith This sacred booke of diuine Canticles doth exhibite both a general song and exposition of diuine thinges S. Basil calleth the Psalmodie of Dauid the common and most plentiful storehouse of al sacred doctrine the treasure of perfect Theologie S. Ambrose accounteth it the register of the vvhole Scripture Origen S. Cyprian S. Ierom S. Chrysostom S. Gregorie S. Beda S. Bernard Cassiodorus Eutimius and others vse the same or very like termes S. Augustin particularly distinguishing al the Scriptures into foure sortes of bookes sheweth that the Psalmes conteyne al The Lavv saith he teacheth somethinges the Historie somethinges the Prouerbes also and Prophetes teach somethinges but the Booke of Psalmes teacheth al. It proposeth the lavv recounteth thinges of old prescribeth the due ordering of mens actions and prophecieth thinges to come Briefly it is a common treasure of good doctrine aptly administring that is necessarie to euerie one And a litle after exemplifying in particular points Is not here saith he al greatnes of vertue and is not here the right square of iustice is not the comlines of chastitie the consummation of prudence is not vvhatsoeuer may be called good lerned in the Psalmes Here is the knovvlege of God the clere prenounciation of Christ to come in flesh the hope of general Resurrection feare of torments promise of glorie reuelation of mysteries Euen al good thinges are here as in a common great treasure laide vp and heaped together See then and obserue here Christian reader the admirable wisdom and goodnes of God The meanes of mans saluation being so disposed that his owne free consent and cooperation is therto necessarily required according to that most approued doctrin of the same S. Augustin Qui creauit te sine te non iustificat te sine te He that created thee vvithout thee doth not iustifie thee vvithout thee to helpe our weaknes and sweetly to draw our mindes otherwise auerse from trauel and paine the Holie Ghost hath ordained that in smal rowme and in pleasant maner we may attaine necessarie knowlege of God our selues easely kepe the same in memorie and dayly put in practise our chiefest dutie in seruing and praising God by singing reading or hearing these diuine Psalmes which one booke as euerie one shal be able to lerne it more or lesse perfectly openeth and sheweth the way to vnderstand al other Scriptures and so to finde enioy the hidden treasures of Gods word in like maner as a key openeth a lock For the whole sacred Bible is a sealed Booke and not rightly vnderstood til the seale or lock be opened by the key of Gods spirite geuing knowlege which the Holie Ghost amongst other wayes inspireth very often by sacred Musike or Psalmodie As S. Gregorie noteth in holie Scripture 4. Reg. 3. v. 15. where Eliseus not yet knowing Gods wil in a particular case called for a Psalmist or player on instruments and vvhen the Psalmist sang the hand of our Lord came vpon Eliseus and presently he prescribing what should be donne procured plentie of water without rayne where was none before and prophecied victorie against the enimies Reason also and experience teach that as men of cheerful hart are apt to sâ—â—g so the exercise of reading singing or playing Psalmes is a conuenient and a special meanes to attaine quietnes or cheerfulnes of mind But as this holie Psalter is the key of other Scriptures so it selfe is most especially a sealed and locked Booke requiring manie keyes Euerie Psalme saith S. Hilarie hath a peculiar key and oftentimes there be so manie lockes and keyes of one Psalme as there be diuers persons that speake to diuers endes and purposes For albeit diuers mysteries are sometimes connected and so require sundrie keyes yet there is but one principal proper key of ech Psalme otherwise it should be diuided into manie Psalmes Our first endeuour therfore must be to find the proper key of euery Psalme that is to know what is principally therein conteyned To this purpose the lerned Expositers of this booke haue obserued tenne general pointes or seueral matters to which al the contents may be reduced as it were so manie keyes and meanes of entrance into the sense and true vnderstanding of al the Psalmes And the same may likewise be called the tenne stringes of this diuine instrument Vpon one of which euery Psalme principally playeth touching the rest more or lesse as cause requireth for more melodious harmonie and perfect musike The first key or string is God himself One in Substance Three in Persons Almightie Alperfect Powre VVisdom Goodnes Maiestie Iustice Mercie other Diuine Attributes The second is Gods workes of Creation Conseruation and Gouerning of the whole world The third Gods Prouidence especially towards man in protecting and rewarding the iust in permitting and punishing the wicked The fourth is the peculiar calling of the Hebrew people their beginning in Abraham Isaac and Iacob their maruelous increase in Aegypt diuers estates manie admirable and miraculous thinges donne amongst them with their ingratitude reiection and reprobation The fifth principal key and string is Christ the promised Redemer of mankind prophecying his Incarnation Natiuitic Trauels Sufferings Death Resurrection Ascension and Glorie The sixt is the propagation of Christs name and Religion with Sacrifice and Sacramntes in the multitude of Gentiles beleeuing in him euen to the vttermost coastes of the earth the Catholique Church euer visible The seuenth is the true maner of seruing God with sincere faith and good workes The eight holie Dauid interposeth manie thinges concerning himselfe As Gods singular benefites towards him for which he rendereth thankes and diuine praises recounteth his enimies dangers and afflictions of mind bodie namely by Saul Absalon and others humbly beseeking and obtaining Gods protection He also expresseth in himselfe a perfect image