the Author of the Old and New Testament The knowledge of the Hebrew much conduceth to the learning of those famous oriental Tongues the Chaldee Syriack Arabick and Aethiopick by reason of the great affinity which they have with their Mother The Books of the Old Testament may be divided several wayes in respect of the Style some were written in Prose some in Verse in respect of Time some were written before their being taken Captives into Babylon as Samuel Isaiah Hosea and many others some in the Captivity and some after as Haggai Zachary Malachi The Hebrews divide the Bible ex instituto Esdrae into three special parts 1. The Law the five books of Moses 2. The Prophets â— The former Ioshua Iudges two books of Samuel and two of the Kings so called because they speak of the first Prophets 2. The later 1. Greater three 2. Lesser twelve 3. The Hagiographa for want of a more special name by which title all the rest are understood and they are eleven Our Saviour himself mentions this most ancient distinction Luk. 24. 44. calling all the rest of the books besides the Law and Prophets Psalms Ubi Psalmi ponuntur pro omnibus libris qui Hagiographorum parte continentur ex quibus etiam in N. T. quaedam citantur tanquam impleta Buxtorf Tiberias cap. 11. In Masora quando vox aliqua ter duntaxat reperitur quidem in tribus his Scripturae partibus tum dicunt Ter occurrit Semel in Lege semel in Prophetis semel in Hagiographis Id. ib. All the Scriptures of the Old Testament in other places are comprized in the Law and Prophets Matth. 5. 17. 7. 12. and 11. 13. 20. 40. Acts 13. 15. 24. 14 26. 22. 28. 23. Rom. 3. 21. or Moses and the Prophets Luk. 24. 27. 16. 29. or in the Scriptures of the Prophets Rom. 16. 26. or the Prophets alone Luke 1. 70. 24. 25 27. Rom. 1. 2. Heb. 1. 1. the name Prophet being taken as it is given to every holy Writer The Jews and the Anâ—ient reckon twenty two Books in the Old Testament according to the number of the Letters of the Alphabet for memory sake Ruth being joyned with the Book of Iudges and the Lamentations being annexed to Ieremiah their Author Hebraeis sunt initiales medianae literae 22 finales quinque Quamobrem V. T. modò in 22. modò in 27. libros partiuntur All the books of both Testaments are sixty six thirty nine of the Old and twenty seven of the New Testament Some would have Hugo Cardinal to be the first Author of that division of the Bible into Chapters which we now follow No man put the Verses in the Latine Bibles before Robert Stephen and for the New Testament he performed that first being holpen by no book Greek or Latine Vide Croii observat in Nov. Test. c. 7. This Arithmetical Distinction of Chapters which we have in our Bibles was not from the first Authors Of which that is an evident token that in all the Quotations which are read in the New Testament out of the Old there is not found any mention of the Chapter which would not have been altogether omitted if all the Bibles had then been distinguished by Chapters as ours distinguishing of the Bible into Chapters and Verses much helps the Reader but it sometimes obscures the sense Dr Raynolds gives this counsel to young Students in the study of Divinity that they first take their greatest travail with the help of some learned Interpreter in understanding St Iohns Gospel and the Epistle to the Romans the summe of the New Testament Isaiah the Prophet and the Psalms of David the summe of the Old and in the rest they shall do well also if in harder places they use the judgement of some godly Writer as Calvin and P. Martyr who have written best on the most part of the Old Testament The Books of the Old Testament are 1. Legal 2. Historical 3 Poetical 4. Prophetical 1. Legal which the Hebrews call from the chief part Torah Deut. 31. 9. 33. 4. the Grecians from the number Pentateuch that is the five-fold volume the five Books of Moses Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy all written by Moses as it is commonly agreed except the last Chapter in the end of Deuteronomy concerning his death written by Ioshua In which five Books are described the things done in the Church from the beginning of the world to the death of Moses Atque hîc finitur Pentateuchum historiam annorum 2552. cum dimidio ab initio mundi complectens R. Usserius in Annal. V. T. cap. 37. Vide Sims Paras ad Chron. Cathol cap. 1. The Sadduces as some say received no other Scripture but these five Books of Moses therefore Christ Matth. 22. 32. proves the Resurrection of the dead which they denied out of the second Book of Moses but Scultetus saith that they rejected not the Prophets lib. 1. exercit Evang. cap. 22. See my Annotat. on Matth. 22. 23. Anciently it was not the custome of holy Writers to adde Titles to what they had written but either they left their works altogether without Titles or the first words were Titles the Titles now in use as Genesis Exodus were prefixed according to the arbitrement of men and the like is to be thought of those before the Historicall Books of the New Testament as Matthew Mark Luke Iohn With the Hebrews the Titles of Books are taken sometimes from the subject Matter or Argument as in the Books of Iudges Ruth Kings Proverbs and others of that kinde sometimes from the Authors or Amanuenses rather as in the Books of Ioshua and the Prophets sometimes from the initial words with which the Books begin which Ierom follows The Books of Moses are denominated from the initial words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. In Principio i. e. Genesis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Haec nomina h. e. Exodus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. Et vocavit h. e. Leviticus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. In Deserto i. e. Numeri 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5. Verba sive Deuteronomium These are subdivided again into fifty four Sections that the reading of them may be finished in so many Sabbaths which is signified Act. 15. 21. Iunius Ainsworth and Amama with Calvin Cornelius a Lapide and Piscator have done well on the Pentateuch 1. Genesis In Hebrew Bereshith the first word of the Book by the Septuagint it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which appellation the Latine Church retained because it sets forth the first generation of things Chap. 2. 4. and of Adam or mankinde Gen. 5. 1. It consists of fifty Chapters and contains a History of two thousand three hundred and sixty nine yeares from the Creation of the World to the death of Ioseph The best Expositors of this Book are Mercer Rivet Paraeus Calvin Peter Martyr
on fourty Chapters Willet Ainsworth Origen upon the Canticles and Ierom upon Ezekiel say That the Hebrews forbad those that had not attained to the Age of the Priesthood and judgement viz. thirty years to read in three Books for their profundity and difficulty that is the beginning of the World which is contained in the three first Chapters of Genesis the beginning and end of Ezekiel since that treats of the Cherubins and the Divine Majesty this of the structure of the third Temple and the Song of Songs in which those things which ought to be understood of the Divine Authour are easily through youthfull affection elsewhere drawne and wrested This Book of Genesis is not onely profitable but very necessary for Doctrine as Moses is the Prince and as it were Parent of Divines So Genesis is the foundation and excellent Compendium of all Divinity propounding evidently the chief parts of it 2. Exodus The second Book of Moses is called in Hebrew Elle Shâ—moth in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which word the Latines have retained It consists of fourty Chapters and contains a History say Iunius and Tremellius of one hundred fourty two years viz. from the death of Ioseph even to the building of the Tabernacle The best Expositors of it are Rivet Calvin Willet Ainsworth 3. Leviticus In Hebrew Vajicra in Greek and Latine Leviticus from the matter which it handleth because it treats especially of the Levitical Priesthood and the Levitical or Ceremonial Laws in it It consists of seven and twenty Chapters and contains a History of one Moneth viz. of the first in the second year after their going out of Aegypt The best Expositors of it are Calvin Ainsworth and Willet 4. Numbers In Hebrew Vaiedabber in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Numeri in English Numbers because it begins with declaring the Number of the people and because many numberings are reckoned up in this Book as first third and thirty three Chapters It contains a History of thirty eight years and consists of thirty six Chapters The best Expositors of it are Calvin Attersol Ainsworth 5. Deuteronomy In Hebrew Haddebarim from the first words in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Latine retains because it contains a second repetition of many necessary points of the Law It consists of thirty four Chapters and contains a History of the two last moneths of the year Some say concerning Ch. 34. 10. that part of it was written by Ezra contemporary with Malachi The best Expositors of it are Calvin Ainsworth Wolphius Cornelius a Lapide 2. The Historical Books 1. Before the Captivity Ioshua Iudges Ruth Samuel Kings 2. After the Captivity both the Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah The sixth Book in the Old Testament is called Ioshua because it contains a History of things done by Ioshua the servant of Moses which he by the will of God put in writing it being all written by him except some of the last Chapter where mention is made of his death and thought to be written by Samuel It consists of twenty four Chapters and contains a History of eighteen years viz from the death of Moses even to the death of Ioshua The best Expositors of it are Masius and Serarius for Papists Drusius and Lavater of Protestants The seventh Book is called Sophetim Iudges because it contains things done under the Government of the twelve Judges There is nothing certain of the Author of this Book though some would have Samuel but he rather collected and compiled into one Volume what was written by many It describes the state of the Government of Israel from the death of Ioshua even to the Priesthood of Eli. It consists of twenty one Chapters and contains a History of two hundred ninety nine years say some of three hundred at least saith Spanhemius The best Expositors of it are Peter Martyr Drusius Lavater Serrarius The eighth is Ruth the Author of which Book is unknown many think it was written by Samuel who added this as a part or conclusion of the Book of Iudges It consists of four Chapters and is an History concerning the marriage and posterity of Ruth The best Expositors of it are Drusius Wolphius Lavater Topsel The ninth in order are the two Books of Samuel which contain in them an History of an hundred and twenty years The first beginning an History of eighty years of fourty under Eli 1 Sam. 4. 18. and of fourty under Samuel and Saul Act. 13. 21. and consists of one and thirty Chapters The second Book is a History of fourty years even from the death of Saul to the end of Davids Kingdom and consists of four and twenty Chapters These two Books in the Original have two several Titles The one is the first and second of Kings the other the first and second of Samuel The former Title it hath received as it stands in relation to the two next Books and in opposition to that of Iudges for as in that Story the Regiment of Iudges was described in one Book so in this Story of which these two are but one part the Regiment of Kings is described this is the reason of the first Title The other likewise of the first and second of Samuel is given unto it 1. Because there is very frequent mention made of Samuel therein he being a principal subject of the first part thereof 2. Because it continueth the narration so farre till the infallible truth of Samuels principal Prophecie which seemed to remain in great doubtfulnesse at least when he ended his dayes was fully accomplished in establishing the Kingdome upon the Person and Family of David the sonne of Iesse The best Expositors of both the Samuels are Peter Martyr Drusius Willet also hath expounded them but not so well as he hath other Books of Scripture The tenth is the two Books of the Kings in Hebrew Melachim in Greek and Latine the third and fourth of the Kings from the subject matter of them because they relate the Acts of the Kings of Israel and Iudah This History was written by divers Prophets but who digested it into one Volume is uncertain many ascribe it unto Esdras See Menochius The first Book consists of twenty two Chapters and contains a History of an hundred and eighteen years The second Book consists of five and twenty Chapters and contains a History of three hundred and twenty years The best Expositors of both the Kings are Peter Martyr and Gaspar Sanctius The eleventh Book is the two Books of Chronicles which is called Dibrei Hajamim verba dierum because in them the deeds of the Kings of Israel are particularly described The Greeks and Latines divide it into two with the Greeks it is called liber 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 q. d. praetermissorum the Book of Remains because he summarily explains some things either omitted or not fully described in the Pentateuch the Books of
orat de ling. Ebr. dignitate Some say the Hebrews were so called from Abrahams passing over Euphrates Id. ibid. Vide Bocharti Geogr. Sac. l. 2. c. 14. f As Ezekiel Daniel Ierom hath followed this division of the Hebrews * Buxtorf Tiberias c. 11. g Both the Chronicles the Psalms Proverbs Iob Ruth Daniel Ecclesiastes Canticles Lamentations Esther Ezra and Nehemiah counted for one book Mark 1. 2. John 6. 45. 1. In ea parte Scripturae quae Prophâ—tas continet in volumine Prophetico Buxtorf Tiberias c. 11. h Joseph contra Appian l. 1. Euseb. l. 3. c. 10. Hieron Praef. in lib. Reg. Some of the Jews reckon four and twenty See Sixtus Senensis his Biblioth lib. 1. Sect. 2. Some twenty and seven Waltherus in officina Biblica p. 237. As the Massorites reckoned all the words and letters so some Christians all the verses of the Bible i Henric. Steph. Lect. in Concordant Graec. N. T. Grotius de Iure Belli l. 1. c. 2. Rivetus Isag. ad Scriptâ—sac c. 29. k We are not too superstitiously to adhere to our late division See Heinsius prolegom ad exercit l Dr Raynolds his Letter for the study of Divinity Usitata divisio sacrorum librorum in capita ab hominibus est recens sicut demonstravit Sixtus Senensis Rainold de Roman Eccles. Idol Admonit ad Lectorem Nos Codices quosdam ita scriptos vidimus ut nulla in illis extet vocum distinctio sed singulae lineae uno tenore scriptae sint atque unicam vocem constituere videantur Croii observat in N. T. cap. 2. Vide plura ibid. câ—p 4 7. Pentateuchum à quinque voluminibus dicitur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eâ—im Graecis quinque 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 volumen vocatur Isid. l. 6. In Iudaica Ecclesia etsi summa fuerit omnium librorum veteris Testamenti Dignitas Authoritas maxima tamen fuit quinque librorum Mosis Rivetus Spanhem Dub. Evangel parte tertia Dub. 1. In Prologo Galeato m Nomina horum quinque librorum ab Hebraeis sumuntur de primis verbis librorum Graeci Latini denominant hos libros à materia de qua agitur in principio libri Bellarminus Sims Parasc ad Chron. Cathol c. 1. n See my Epistle to my Heb. Critica Sacra and Thorndike of Religious Assemblies chap. 6. pag. 175 176. Two thousand three hundred and eight saith Sixtus Senensis o Hieron in prologo in Eze. Epist. fam l 1. Epist. 32. Eustochio Mercer praefat in Gen. Cantic Vossius in Thesibus de creatione Vide Estium ad Ezec. 40. 46. p Significat exitum siliorum scilicet Israel de â— Egypto ut in terram Chanaan prosiciscerentur Menochius * An hundred fourty six saith Senensis q Barbara Turcarum gens hodie Mosis doctrinam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comprehensam non aliter quam divinam veneratur adeo ut etiam chartarum lacinias quibus alâ—quid ejus fortè inscriptum sit deosculetur Paraeus praefat de libris Mosis Evangelistae Apostoli in Novo Testamento centies quinquagies amplius in narrâ—tionibus concionibus suis Mosaici Canonis Authoritatem adducunt ut suum cum Mose Prophetis consensum comprobent Id. ibid. r Est enim Deuteronomium sive ut Philo loquitur Epinomis nihil aliud quam lex historia summatim repetita in lorum gratiam qui promulgationi legis rebusque illis non interâ—uâ—rant Grotius in Exod. 20. The Hebrews divide the Books into four Classes The first is called Thorah that is the Law containing the five Books of Moses s De cujus ingenti at perquam solida eruditione raraque accurata diligentia nunquam satis dici potest Muis Assert 3. Heb. ver The second Nebiim Reshonim the Books of the former Prophets as Ioshua Iudges Samuel Kings The third Nebiim Aâ—haronim later Prophets Isaiah Ieremiah Ezekiel And the lesser being twelve but one Book The fourth Sepher Ketubim the Hagiographal Books It was written as 't is likely by divers Prophets Matth. 2. ult Vide Bezam Bucer Calvin in loc t Petrus Martyr in praefat com in lib. Iud. scribit alios putare unumquemque judicem suorum temporum res gestas conscripsisse quaepostea Samuel eorum monumenta cum dissecta essent in unum quoddam corpus seu volumen coegerit Aliqui hujus libri auctorem faciunt Ezechiam Regem alij Esdram alij Samuelem que opinio verior videtur pluribus nititur conjecturis graviores habet assertores etiam plures Menochius u The Authors of these Books of Samuel are thought to be Samuel Nathan and Gad Samuel of the first Book to the twenty fifth Chapter where his death is rehearsed Nathan and Gad continued it 1 Chron. 29. 29. x They are called the first and second of Kings by the Greeks and Latines They contain a large History of things done by Kings the History of Samuel being preposed The Ordinary Glosse saith he wrote a good part of the first Book Scriptor horum librorum quatuor Hebraeorum eruditissimis creditur esse Ieremias Sermonis forma non discrepat Eum credibile est usum commentariis illis Nathanis Gadiâ— Prophetarum quorum mentio 1 Paral. 29. 29. Grotius Because they reckon the first and second of Samuel also among those of the Kings Esdras and Ieremiah are thought to be the authors of the Kings Munster rendred it the Books of Annals Libri praeteritorum appellantur ab Hierenymo Ab Esdra scriptos hos duos libros constans semper fuit apud Hebraeos fama qui hos libros vocant verba dierum id est excerpta ex regum diurnis Grotius y Auctor ignoratur Alii Esdrae tribuunt alii Ioremiae certi nihil habemus ex Scriptura Menochius Tempus quo historia Paralipomenon edita Canonicis Scriptoribus adjecta sit non possum pro certo indicare Suspicor autem post Antiochi persecutionem qui saevierat in libros divinos abbreviatorem ex annalibus regum epitomen excerpfisse praemissis genealogiis ab Adam usque additis quibusdam generi Davidico ut continens temporum series haberetur vulgò usque ad sua tempora Bibliander de optimo generum explicandi Hebraica Ezra signifieth an helper Nehemiah a comforter Certum est libros Paralipomenon Esdrae Nehemia esse post reliques ferè omnes sacros veteris Testamenti libros conscriptos Capel Critica Sac. l. 1. c. 3. a Nehemiah in English is A Comfort sent from God to comfort his people in those troublesome times b Nomen huic libro est à potiore persona Martinius Aben Esra docet historiae hujus Scriptorem fuisse Mardochaeum idque ex ultimo capite hujus libri colligit Hanc sententiam tanquam veram amplector tamdiu donec contrarium probetur Mayerii Dissertat Theol. de LXX Hebdomatibus Danielis p. 145. LXX huic historiae somnium quoddam Mardocâ—aei
Epithete The holy Scriptures Rom. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 3. 15. The Scriptures of the Prophets Rom. 16. 26. Some think that Enoch the seventh from Adam wrote but Iude 14. speaketh only of his prophesying which might rather be by word of mouth then writing because our Saviour citing Scripture ever gives the first place to Moses and undertaking by the Scriptures to prove himself to be the Messiah that he ought to suffeâ— began at Moses Luke 24. 27. No doubt if there had been any more ancient then Moses our Saviour would have alledged it because all the Scripture that was before him was to give testimony of him The Author of the Scriptures was God himself they came from him in a special and peculiar manner commonly called inspiration which is an act of Gods Spirit immediately imprinting or infusing those notions into their brains and those phrases and words by which the notions were uttered 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by Divine inspiration or by inspiration of God Prophecy came not of old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved or carried by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. They did not write these things of their own heads but the Spirit of God did move and work them to it and in it 2 Sam. 23. 2. The spirit of the Lord spake by me that is did immediately guide me and tell me what matter to utter and in what words Stephen saith they resisted the Holy Ghost when they did disobey the Scriptures The Holy Ghost by the mouth of David and the mouth of Isaiah spake Acts 1. 16. 4. 25. 28. 25. The Inscriptions of many Prophetical Books and Epistles Apostolical run thus The word of the Lord which come to Hosea Amos Ioel Paul Peter Iames a servant of God and an Apostle of Christ. The Proeme that is set before divers Prophecies is this Thus saith the Lord and the Prophets inculcate that speech The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it because they would take off the thoughts of the people from their own persons and lift them up to consideration of God the chief Author It is all one to say The Scripture saith Rom. 4. 3. 10. 11. 11. 2. Gal. 4. 30. 1 Tim. 5. 10. and God saith Rom. 9. 25. Heb. 4. 3. 8. 5. 13. 5. and the word Scripture is put for God speaking in the Scripture The Scripture saith to Pharaâ—h Rom. 9. 7. and The Scripture hath shut up all men under sin Galat. 3. 22. for which in another place God hath shut up Rom. 11. 32. All other disciplines were from God and every truth whosoever speaks it is from the Holy Ghost but the Scripture in a singular manner is attributed to the Holy Ghost he immediately dictated it to the Holy men of God The efficient principall cause then of the Scripture was God the ten Commandments of which most of the rest is an exposition were written after a secret and unutterable manner by God himself therefore they are called the writings of God Exod. 32. 16. Secondly all the rest which was written though men were the instruments was done by his appointment and assistance Exod. 17. 14. â—sai 8. 1. Ier. 30 2. The Scripture is often attributed to the Holy Ghost as the Author and no mention is made of the Pen-men Heb. 10. 15. The Prophets and Apostles were the Pen-men of the Scripture whose Calling Sending and Inspiration was certainly Divine for whatsoever they taught the Church of God or left in writing they learned not before in the Schools 1 Cor. 2. 13. The Divine Authority of the Word may be defined a certain dignity and excellency of the Scripture above all other sayings or writings whatsoever whereby it is perfectly true in word and sense it deserves credit in all sayings narrations of things past present and to come threatnings and promises and as superiour doth binde to obedience if it either forbid or command any thing 1 Tim. 1. 15. 2 Pet. 1. 19. Iohn 5. 39. Heb. 6. 18. Rom. 1. 5. 2 Cor. 10. 5 6. 13. 3. 12. 12. Gal. 1. 1 12 13. though the things in mans judgement seem unlike or incredible or the Commandments hard and foolish to the carnal minde Hereticks have laboured to prove their corrupt and damnable opinions out of the Scripture and have received some books if not all as Divine The Turks at this day so esteem the five books of Moses as they will kisse such patches of Paper as they finde having any part thereof written in the same Aristaeus an Heathen when he had determined to have disputed against Scripture confesseth that he was forbidden by God in a dream Plato is termed Moses Atticus Moses speaking Greek The holy Scripture in it self is Divine and Authentical though no man in the world should so acknowledge it as the Sun in it self were light though all the men in the world were blinde and could not or would not see it but in respect of us it is Divine and Authentical when it is acknowledged and esteemed so to be The Scripture is the word of God written by holy men as they were inspired by the holy Ghost divinely containing all Divine Truth necessary to salvation for the edification and instruction of Gods Church thereunto and for the glory of God The holy Scriptures are that Divine Instrument and means by which we are taught to believe what we ought touching God and our selves and all creatures and how to please God in all things unto eternal life Robins Essayes 8th Observ. Divines have given almost fourty several Arguments to prove the Scriptures to be the word of God That the Scriptures were from God may appear by several Reasons 1. Intrinsecal taken out of the Scriptures themselves 2. Extrinsecal acts of God and works of providence about them 1. Intrinsecal 1. From the excellency of their matter which is heavenly the divine and supernatural matter contained in it It telleth us of such things as do far exceed the reach of mans reason and which it was impossible for any man to counterfeit and feign and which being told are so correspondent to reason that no man can see just cause to call them into question as the Doctrine of Creation of all things in six dayes the Doctrine of the fall of our first Parents the Story of the Delivering Israel out of Aegypt of the Delivering of the Law and ten Commandments the Doctrine of the incarnation of Christ Jesus of the Resurrection of the dead of the last Judgement of the life to come and of the Immortality of the soul for though this last was taught also by Philosophers yet it is so doubtfully and unperfectly handled by them in comparison of the delivering thereof in Scripture that it is apparent it was another Spirit which guided the teachers of it here then they were guided withall What Angel
Ioshua Iudges Samuel and the Kings Of the Latines liber Chronicorum q. d. Chronologicum which appellation Luther retains in the Dutch version of the Bible There is nothing certain of the Author of these Books though Esdras be thought to be the Author The first Book consists of twenty nine Chapters and contains a History of two thousand eight hundred and five years viz. from the Creation of the world even to the Kingdom of Salomon The second consists of thirty two Chapters and describes a History from the beginning of the Kingdom of Salomon even to the return out of the Captivity of Babylon The best Expositor on both the Chronicles is Lavater Twelfthly The two Books of Ezra they are counted for one Volume with the Hebrews the Greeks and Latines divide them into two Books and assign the first to Ezra the second to Nehemiah Ezra was so called from the Author which was a Scribe most skild in the Law of God as appears in Chap. 7. v. 1 6 and 11. The best Expositors of it are Iunius and Wolphius Nehemiah It is called by the Latines the second Book of Ezra because the History begun by Ezra is continued in it but usually Nehemiah because it was written by him and also because it contains the re-edifying of the City of Ierusalem caused by Nehemiah It consists of thirteen Chapters and contains a History of fifty five years viz. from the twentieth year of Artaxerxes to the Kingdom of the last Darius The best Expositors of it are Wolphius and Pilkinton The next Book is Esther called in Hebrew Megillath Esther the Volume of Esther Many of the Jews think this Book was written by Mordechai which those words in Chap. 9 20. and 23. seem to favour Isidore saith Ezra is thought to have written Esther but some say it was composed after by another Moses Camius saith it was written by the men of the great Synagogue Philo Iudaeus saith Ioachim a Priest of the Hebrews son of the high-Priest was the composer of it and that he did it at the intreaty of Mordecai the Jew It s remarkable that though the Book of Esther contain most admirable passages of Gods Providence in delivering of his Church yet in this Book alone of all the Books of holy Scripture the name of God is not so much as once mentioned Dr Drakes Chronol The Jews throw the Book of Esther to the ground before they reade it because the name of God is not there as their Rabbins have observed Dr Stoughtons Love sick Spouse It consists of ten Chapters and contains a History of ten or as others will of twenty years concerning the preservation of the Church of the Jewes in Persia by Esther Drusius Serrarius and Merlin have done well on this Book 3. Poetical Books Iob Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles to which some adde the Lamentations Those parts of Scripture which set forth strongest affections are composed in verse as those holy flames of spiritual love between Christ and his Spouse in the Canticles of Salomon The triumphant joy of Deborah after deliverance from Sisera's Army of Moses and Miriam after the destruction of Pharaoh the afflicting sorrows of Hezekiah in his sickness and the Lamentations of Ieremiah for the Captivity of the Jews The Book of Psalms is as it were a throng of all affections love joy sorrow fear hope anger zeal every passion acting a part and wound up in the highest strains by the Spirit of God breathing Poetical eloquence into the heavenly Prophet So the Book of Iob. whose subject is sorrow hath a composure answerable to the matter Passion hath most scope in Verse and is freest when tied up in numbers Iob There is great variety of judgement about the Author and Pen-man of this Book Some say it was one of the Prophets but they know not who Some ascribe it to Salomon some to Elihu many to Moses Hugo Cardinal Suidas and Pineda conceive that Iob himself was the Author of this Book and it is thus proved because when any Book is inscribed by the name of any person and there appears no urgent reason wherefore it could not be written by him such a person is to be thought the Author and not the matter of the Book as is manifest in the Book of Ioshua and those of the greater and lesser Prophets The Arabical speeches with which it abounds note that it was written by some man living near Arabia as Iob did Neither doth it hinder that Iob speaks of himself in the third person for Canonicall Writers are wont to do this out of modesty Numb 12. 3. Iohn 21. 24. It is conceived to be the first piece of Scripture that was written if Moses wrote it it is probable that he wrote it before the deliverance of the people of Israel out of Egypt while he was in Midian The main and principal subject of this Book is contained in Psal. 34. 19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of all We may divide the Book into three parts and so it sets forth 1. Iobs happy condition both in regard of externals and internals in the first five verses 2. Iobs fall his calamity from that to the seventh verse of the fourty second Chapter 3. Iobs restitution or restoring from thence to the end Beza Mercer Pineda Drusius Cocceius have well expounded it The Psalms are called in the Hebrew Sepher Tehillim a Book of Divine Praises in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so called from a musical Instrument used in singing of the Psalms which name the Latines have retained Vide Menochinm Hymns is the general Title for the whole Book of Psalms For though it be translated The Book of Psalms yet every one that knoweth that language knoweth the word is The Book of Hymns Christ with his Disciples sung an Hymn Matth. 26. 30. Mr Cottons Singing of Psalms a Gospel Ordinance c. 5. Psalmi dicti sunt Tehillim ab argumento praecipuo Etsi enim in libro hoc contineantur etiam petitiones necnon precationes hae tamen non adeo sunt frequentes his ipsis variae interspersae sunt laudationes Dei a Iustitia summa à misericordia potentia Dei desumtae It contains sacred Songs to be fitted for every condition both of the Church and Members It is called in the New Testament The Book of Psalms Luk. 20. 42. and 24. 44. Acts 1. 20. No Books in the Old Testament are oftner cited in the New then Isaiah and the Psalms that sixty times this sixty four They are in all an hundred and fifty in Greek an hundred fifty one Augustine and Chrysostom ascribe them all to David as the Author so do Theophylact Ludovicus de Tena Some think that after the Captivity Ezra collected these Psalms dispersed here and there into one Volume There are ten Authors whose names are put in the Titles of the Psalms
viz. David Salomon Moses Asaph Etham Heman Ieduthun and the three sons of Corah Odae istae Davidis dicuntur quod is multas veteres collegerit multas ipse Psallendi sciens addiderit aut per homines idoneos addi fecerit Grotius The Book of Psalms though it be called from the greater part by the name of Davids Psalms yet were not all the Psalms in it composed by David but some of them by Moses Psal. 90. Some by Heman Psal. 88. Some of them by Etham Psal. 89. Some by others Psal. 137. Mr Gataker on Psal. 82. 6 7 8. Seventy four Psalms are expresly entituled Davids Psalms that some others which want titles expressing their Pen-men were his also See Act. 4. 25. Id. ibid. The Hebrews divide the Psalms into five Books or parts The first Book hath the first 41 Psalms the second 31 from 42 to 73 the third 17 from 73 to 90 the fourth 17 from 90 even to 107 the fifth 43 from the 107 to 150. Vide Genebr in Psal. 1. 1. Tituli sunt Psalmorum claves the Titles are Keys as it were of the Psalms saith Ierom. The best Expositors on the Psalms are Musculus Mollerus Muis Calvin The Scripture is the choisest Book the Psalms the choisest piece of Scripture and the 119 Psalm the choisest part of the Psalms Among 176 verses in that Psalm there are scarce four or five at most wherein there is not some commendation of the word The Psalms are frequently read both in the Jewish Synagogues and in our Christian Churches the very Turks themselves swear as solemnly by Davids Psalms as by their Mahomets Alcoran they have them in such estimation Of all parts of the Scripture the Psalms have this excellency that they do in a lively experimental way set forth the gracious works of God upon the soul. They have a respective direction or comfort to every ones affliction or temptation Hence they have been called by some the little Bible or the Bible of the Bible Mr Burgess of Justification p. 225. Basil saith If all the other Books of Scripture should perish there remained enough in the Book of Psalms for the supply of all and therefore he cals it Amuletum ad prosligandum daemonâ—m Our Saviour Christ himself cites the Psalms not only as Canonical Scripture but as a particular entire and noble summe of that body Luk. 24. 44. no Book of the Old Testament except the Prophecie of Isaiah is so like a Gospel so particular in all things concerning Christ as the Psalms Dr Donne on Psal. 62. 7 9. Proverbs In Hebrew Mishle the Book of Proverbs is compared to a great heap of Gold-rings rich and orient severally and every one shining with a distinct sense by it self but other contexts of holy Writ to Gold-chains so enterwoven and linked together that they must be illightned and receive mutual illustration one from another The manner of it is usually to deliver two contradistinct Propositions It consists of one and thirty Chapters it was written by Salomon saith Augustine Chap. 17. of his 20 book de Civitate Dei and Iosephus in the 8th book and 2d Chapter of his Jewish Antiquities and it is proved 1 King 4. 32. though there indeed it is said only he spake them yet it is likely also he wrote them Prov. 1. 1. they are called the Proverbs of Solomon because most of them are his It is a Treatise of Christian manners touching piety toward God and justice toward our neighbours The best Expositors on it are Mercer Cartwright Dod Lavater Graece dicitur hic liber 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nimirum Hebraeum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proprie comparationem significat quia ex comparationibus curtatis plerumque fiebant Proverbia inde coepit sumi in significatione 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grotius Ecclesiastes In Hebrew Choheleth the Feminine hath respect either to wisdom or to the soul the nobler part See Menochius The Author of this Book was Salomon who either at his Table or in his familiar conference propounded these Doctrines to his Courtiers as may be collected out of 1 King 10. 8. Many of the Hebrews say that this Book was written by Salomon to testifie his repentance of his ill led life It consists of twelve Chapters The summe and scope of the whole Book is explained in the last Chapter or the first two verses viz. that all things in the world are vain therefore that nothing is more profitable and necessary then to fear God and keep his Commandments The principal parts of it are two The first concerning the vanity of humane matters and studies in the world the latter of the stability and profit of godliness and the fear of God The best Expositors on it are Mercer Cartwright Mr Pemble Granger Canticles are called in Hebrew Shir ha-Shirim by the Latins Cantica Canticorum The Song of Songs that is a most excellent Song the Hebrews having no Superlatives Salomon was the Author of it 1 Kings 4. 32. Many of the Ancients refer it to the spiritual Marriage between Christ and the Church or every faithful soul. Some think it was penned long after Salomons Marriage with Pharaohs daughter by comparing 1 King 7. 34. with Cant. 7. 4. It consists of eight Chapters and perpetual Dialogues The Jews had this Book in such reverence and account that before thirty years of age none would study it The best Expositors are Mercer Brightman Ainsworth Doctor Gouge Fenner This Book which treats of that Spiritual and Heavenly Fellowship the sanctified soul hath with Christ cannot be throughly understood in the true life of it but by those that are sanctified 4. Prophetical Books The Greater Prophets four Isaiah Ieremiah Ezekiel Daniel The Lesser Prophets twelve Hosea Ioel Amos Obadiah Ionah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephany Haggai Zachary Malachi Grotius orders them thus Hosea Ioel Amos Obadiah Ionah Isaiah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephany Daniel Ieremiah Ezekiel Haggai Zachary Malachi They are called Prophetical Books because they were written by Prophets by Gods Commandment Prophets were distinguished by the Temples some were Prophetae priores those of the first Temple others Posteriores of the latter Temple Isaiah Is placed first not because he is more Ancient then all the rest for some say that Ionah and Amos were before him in time others that Hosea was before him for Isaiahs beginning was in the dayes of Uzziah Now Hosea was in the dayes of Ieroboam and Ieroboam was before Uzziah This Mr Burroughs saith is one reason why though he intends to go over the whole prophetical Books yet he rather pitcheth upon Hosea first because indeed he was the first Prophet but Isaiah was rather set first for the Dignity of the Prophetical Oracles which he explains and because his Prophecy is longer then all the rest He is eloquent in his speech being a Noble man therefore the translation can hardly expresse his elegancy He brings so many and such evident
Regeneration ibid. How the Scripture is to be read l. 1. p. 23 24 Reason Reason the uses of it in matters of Religion l. 9. p. 87 Rebaptizing condemned l. 8. p. 676 Rebellion against God and man l. 4. p. 373 374 Recovery What mans Recovery is l. 5. p. 389. to 392 Redeemer Redeemer Christ how l. 5. p. 408 409 Redemption what l. 5. p. 414 Religion Three characters of the true Religion l. 7. p. 5 Remora able to stay the greatest Ship under sail l. 3. p. 262 Repent How God is said to Repent and how not l. 2. p. 151 Repentance what in us l. 8. p. 649 650 Reproach Christ reproached for our sakes l. 5. p. 427 428 Reprobation Reprobation what it signifies and what it is l. 2. p. 222 The word taken three wayes and five evil consequences of it ibid. Resurrection Christ Rose from the dead and why l. 5. p. 438 to 441 Our Resurrection l. 10. p. 857 858 Revelation The manner of Gods Revealing his will threefold l. 1. p. 5 The Book of Revelation why so called l. 1. p. 52 It is canonical l. 1. p. 51 52 Difficult ibid. The best Interpreters of it l. 1. p. 53 Revenge l. 4. p. 374 375 376 Reverence Reverenco l. 7. p. 577 578 In worship l. 9. p 779 780 Righteousnesse Whether original Righteousnesse was natural to Adam l. 3. p. 291 The Properties of original Righteousnes l. 2. p. 292 Christs Righteousnesse is ours l. 7. p. 522 523 Marks to try whether we have it and means to get it ibid. Rivers Rivers Their original use and motion l. 3. p. 251 252 The River Nilus l. 3. p. 246. 252 Romans Romans an excellent Epistle l. 1. p. 47 Who best expound it ib. Rule The properties of a Rule l. 1 p. 82 83 The Scripture is the Rule of faith and life ibid. 84 Ruth Ruth by whom written l. 1. p. 32 The best Expositors of it ibid. S Sacraments SAcraments their name and nature l. 8. p. 655 656 The Church hath ever had Sacraments l. 8. p. 656 The use of Sacraments and their parts l. 8. p. 656 657 The necessity and efficacy of the Sacraments l. 8. p. 657 658 How the Sacraments of the Jewish Church and ours agree and how they differ l. 8. p. 659 660 The Sacraments of the New Testament only two l. 8. p. 660 Sacraments are to be dispensed only by a Minister l. 8. p. 661 The use of the Sacraments of the New Testament ibid. Sadduceâ— confuted l. 3. p. 279. 289 Samuel The Authors of the two books of Samuel and the best Expositors of them l. 1. p. 33 Sanctification Sanctification what l. 7. p. 530 53â— Its parts and properties l. 7. p. 532 Why all godly men must be pure and holy l. 7. p. 532 The excellency of Sanctification l. 7. p. 533 It is imperfect here and why l. 7. p. 533 534 Evidences of Sanctification and means to get it l. 7. p. 534 The Sanctification of the whole man soul and body l. 7. p. 540 541 Of the minde l. 7. p. 541 Of the will l. 7. p. 542 543 Of the conscience l. 7. p. 544 545 Of the memory l. 7. p. 546 Of the affections l. 7. p. 546 to 579 Of the sensitive appetite l. 7 p. 579 580 Of mans body and all the external actions l. 7. p. 580 to 584 Satisfaction Christ satisfied for us l. 5. p. 416 417 It was convenient Christ should satisfie for us l. 5. p. 417 418 The difference between merit and Satisfaction ibid. Saviour Christ is our Saviour and how l. 5. p. 405 406 Scandal l. 4. p. 376 Schism l. 4. p. 376 377 Schoolmen taxed l. 1. p. 25 Scientia media an errour l. 3 p. 120. m Scripture It is the rule of Divinity l. 1. p. 5 Three general characters to know any word to be the word of God ibid. God revealed himself divers wayes to the Fathers ibid. The divers Epithetes of the Scripture l. 1. p. 5 6 Why called the word of God l. 1. p. 5. m Why the Scripture ib. The Divine Authority of the Scriptures proved by many reasons l. 1. p 6. to 16 A description of the Scripture l. 1. p. 7 The Scripture is not repugnant to humane reason and policy l. 1. p. 17 It is for it self worthy to be believed and known to be of God by it self ib. It hath its Authority from it self not the Church l. 1. p. 17 18 It is to be read by the common people l. 1. p. 20 21 How it is to be read l. 1. p. 22 23 24 Many contemn and unreverently handle the Scripture l. 1. p. 25 26 27 The Canonical Books of Scripture l. 1. p. 28 Of the Old and New Testament l. 1. p. 30. to 54 What parts of Scripture have been questioned l. 1. p. 43 The Authentical Edition of Scripture l. 1. p. 58. to 61 Whether any books of the Scripture be lost l. 1. p. 72 73 Whether the Scriptures of the Old Testament had points from the beginning l. 1. p. 73 74 The end of the Scripture l. 1. p. 80 The Properties of the Scripture its Divine Authority truth it is the rule of faith and life necessity purity perfection perspicuity l. 1. p. 81 to 105 The interpretation of the Scripture 1. It s divers senses 2. To whom belongs the chief authority to expound Scripture 3. The means which must be used in the Interpâ—eâ—ation of it l. 1. p. 105. to 121 Sea Sea a great work of God the making of it l. 3. p. 249 252 253 Why called mâ—re ib. m. Divers Questions about it answered l. 3. p. 249 250 251 Sedition l. 4. p. 377 378 379 Self love l. 4. p. 379 Self-denial l. 7. p. 600 Self seeking l. 4. p. 379 380 Septuagint Septuagint The Greek Translation of the Old Testament l. 1. p. 62 Is not authentical l. 1. p. 75 76 Serpents Serpents a three-fold profit redounds to us from them l. 3. p. 267 268 Why Satan is called the old Serpent l. 4. p. 304 Servants Two kindes of them three things commend a Servant l. 9. p. 843 844 Severity l. 7. p. 588 589 Ship the materials of it wonderful l. 3. p. 254 255 Signs several sorts of them l. 8. p. 655 656 Simple God is most Simple l. 2. p. 138 139 Sincerity l. 7. p. 602 Singing of Psalms a duty and how to be performed l. 8. p. 609 610 Sinne. Sin what it is l. 4. p. 307 Divided into original and actual ibid. l. 4. p. 315 That there is original sin its names and what it is l. 4. p. 308 309 310 The subject of it l. 4. p. 310 It is not the substance of a man l. 4. p. 310 311 Many hereticks extenuate it ib. All equally guilty of original sinne l. 4. p. 312 313 How it is propagated l. 4 p. 313 314 We are all guilty of Adams sin l. 4. p. 306 307 What actual sin is l. 4 p.