Song of Songs do excellently declare In the thirtith chap. of his Prouerbes the prophesie of Agur concerning Christ vnder the names of Ithiel Veal is recorded It seemeth that his time was much about Salomons reigne At the least his doctrine being of like excellencie with Salomons and of like forme of teaching it was therfore inserted and ioyned with his Prouerbes And seeing the next chapter which is the last of the Prouerbes containeth a like notable doctrine vttered by queene Bathsheba the mother of King Salomon we cannot but account it a royall monument of her Princely grace in the rolle of Princely Prophets And so will we go forward to ouertake the troupes of those which are marched band after band before vs. Prophetes such as God sent specially to Iuda and to the Kings thereof after that the ten tribes were departed from them IN the reigne of Rehoboam the sonne of king Salomon was Shemaiah the prophet and also the prophet Iddo mentioned 2. Chron. 12. 15. They wrote certaine bookes of publike acts genealogies In the reigne of Asa Azariah the sonne of Obed prophesied to the incouraging of king Asa and of all Iuda and Beniamin to continue faithfull to the Lord he assuring them that then the Lord would be with them to defend them against all their enemies 2. Chron. 15. 1. c. 8. But chap. 16. 7. c. Hananâ—… the prophet is sent of God to reproue the same king Asa for making a couenant of league and truce with the king of Aram. In the reigne of king Iehoshaphat prophesied Iehaziel the sonne of Zechariah to incourage Iehoshaphat and the people of Iuda in hope of their victorie against those mightie armies of the Ammonites and Moabites and of mout Seir which came out against theÌ„ 2. Chro. chap. 20. ver 1 10 14 c. But in the end of the same twentith chap. Eliezer the sonne of Dodeuah of Maresha he prophesied to the reproofe of Iehoshaphat because he had ioyned himselfe with Ahaziah a wicked king of Israel the prophet plainly telling Iehoshaphat that the Lord would therfore surely breake his shippes which he had made and prepared to go to Tarshish In the reigne of king Ioash Zechariah the fonne of Iehoiada the priest as also other Prophets of God prophesied against the declining of the king and the people after the death of Iehoiada but they most outragiously stoned Zechariah to death in the court of the Lords house 2. Chron. 24. 19 20 21 22. and Matth. chap. 23. 34. 35. In the reigne of king Ahaz prophesied Oded a prophete of the Lord to the reproofe of the crueltie of Israel at that time committed against Iuda 2. Chron. 28. 9. c. The prophet Isaiah prophesied in the reigne of many kings that is to say in the dayes of Vzziah Iotham Ahaz Hezekiah kings of Iuda chap. 1. 1. He prophesied so plainly of Christ of his Deitie of his humanitie that he should be borne of a virgin c. finally that he should die for the sinnes of his people make a conquest ouer all their enemies for their perfect deliuerance c. that he may not vnfitly be called an Euangelicall Prophet He continued prophesiing by the space of about threescore yeares About the time that Isaiah began to prophesie it is supposed that Ioel vttered his prophesie against Ierusalem and Iudah for the same their great and grieuous sinnes against the which Isaiah crieth out in the beginning of his Prophesie Heare ô ye heauens c. He foretold the gifts of the holy Ghost which our Sauiour Christ should bestow vpon his Church chap. 2. 28 29. The which how it hath bene fulfilled read Act. 2. 14 15 16 c. and in many other places of that booke The Prophet Ieremiah prophesied in the reigne of king Iosiah from the thirteenth yeare of his reigne to the end of the eleuenth yeare of Zedekiah in the fift moneth of the second captiuity Ier. 1. 2. 3. So he prophesied at the least 41 yeares if not something more He prophesied of our Sauiour Christ that he should be the righteousnesse and saluation of his people Hee foretold and constantly affirmed against manie false Prophetes the seuentie yeares captiuitie of Iudah vnder the king of Babel for a punishmeÌ„t of their sinnes Zephaniah also prophesied in the reigne of king Iosiah but continued not so long as Ieremia did chap. 1. 1. He earnestly calleth for the repentance of the people and foretelleth the calling of the Gentiles which should come to passe in the dayes of the Gospel chap. 3. Moreouer in the reigne of Iosiah was Huldah that excellent Prophetesse to whom Iosiah sent for counsell comfort of whom we read 2. King 22. 14. The Prophet Ezekiel prophesied from the fift yeare of the first captiuitie which began at the fourth yeare of Iehoiakim chap. 1. vers 1. 2. he had manie notable visions and laboured mightily with the people both by doctrine example that they might humble themselues vnder the hand of God and profite by so great a visitation and punishment as their captiuitie was which most iustly fell vpon them for their grieuous sinnes He prophesied also many notable things concerning the kingdome of Christ to come In the reigne of Iehoiakim also prophesied Urijah according to the words of Ieremiah for the which cause Iehoiakim put him to death Reade Ierem. chap. 26. 20 21 22 23. Daniel being caried into captiuity with the first in his young yeares was shortly after indued with a singular gift of prophesie and prophesied in the captiuitie euen to the end of the 70 yeares thereof chap. 1. 3. 6. and chap. 9. 1 2 c. He interpreted the dreames and visions of Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar He himself saw manie holy visions according to the which hee foretold the alterations of states and kingdoms which should fall out in the world vntill the coÌ„ming of Christ in the flesh He prophesied also of the verie time of Christ his death and of that horrible destruction which was to come vpon Ierusalem by the Romanes as a iust vengeance vpon the Iewes for abusing their power to crucifie the Lord of life glorie which was as the filling vp of the measure of all their other sins and rebellions against the Lord their God Dan. chap. 2. and chap. 4. and chap. 7. c. Haggai and Zechariah two very notable prophetes they prophesied to the people of Iudah after their returne out of captiuitie to stir them vp to the building of the Temple after that it had for too long a time bene ouer-carelesly neglected of them while in the meane season they were double-diligent in the garnishing of their owne houses Read Ezra chap. 5. 1 2. and Hag. ch 1. 1. c. and Zech. chap. 1. 1. c. Ezra himselfe may worthily be reckened of vs among the excellent and most holy and wise Prophets of God as the bookes of holy Scripture which he wrote do euidently
after that the world was created This Henoch though so neare the beginning of the world yet he prophesied of the last iudgement which shall be at the time of the second appearance of our Sauiour Christ in glorie at the end of the world as we read Iude verses 14 15. Enoch also saith Iude the seuenth from Adam prophesied saying Behold the Lord commeth with thousands of his Saints to giue iudgement vpon all men and to rebuke all the vugodly among them of all their wicked deeds The second chiefe Prophete of the olde world I meane as touching those whose prophesies are expressed was Noah the ninth generation from Adam one yea the principall of those eight persons who were saued when the whole world beside for the wickednesse thereof was vtterly drowned This Noah the eighth person one of that small number which were saued a Preacher of righteousnesse as the Apostle Peter calleth him in his second epistle chap. 2. vers 5. he prophesied of this first destruction of the worlde by water an hundreth and twentie yeares before it came to passe Gen. chap. 6. vers 9. c. This huge and terrible iudgement of God fell vpon the world in the yeare which was after the creation therof 1656. Noah prophesied also that the posteritie of Shem his second sonne should be a people peculiar to God aboue anie other branch or line of his posteritie vntill the Messiah should come The accomplishment of which prophesie began about foure hundreth yeares after to be in singular gratious maner manifested to Abraham and so foorth in the generations from him succeeding He prophesied likewise of the calling of the Gentiles that is of the rest of the nations which were to descend from his other two sonnes after that Christ should appeare but more specially of those nations which should come of Iapheth his eldest sonne in so much as Ham his yongest sonne was by the spirit of Prophesie accursed of God according to that occasion which he himselfe by his vngratious fact gaue vnto his father to denounce the same Gen. chap. 9. 25. 26. 27. The posterity of Iapheth were the Persians and Grecians and the people of these parts of the world the which we our selues and the neighbour nations do inhabite Romanes Italians Germanes c. Gen. chap. 10. 2. c. The fulfilling of which prophesie hath continued from the time of the ascension of our Sauior Christ shortly after the which time euen within a few dayes the Gospell was preached to the foresaid posteritie of Iapheth for the most part as is euident Act. 2. 9. 10. 11. to Parthians and Medes and Elamites c. though some of Egypt c. who were of the posteritie of Ham be rehearsed there Reade Gen. 10. 6. c. And that of the posteritie of Ham some were to be called also to the faith of the Gospell reade Psal. 87. and Isai. chap. 19. verses 18. c. 23. 24. 25. and Zach. chap. 14. 16. Prophetes such as were Patriarches or chiefe Fathers of the people of God since the flood to the time of the Iudges which was the space of more then 700 yeares ABraham was in his time a Prophet of the Lord for so God himself testifieth of him Gen. 20. 7. where he speaketh thus to Abimelech king of Gerar Deliuer the man his wise againe for he is a Prophet and he shall pray for thee c. Isaak prophesied that Esau though he was his eldest sonne should serue Iaakob the yoonger brother to the end it might appeare that the interest and right of the spirituall blessing and inheritance commeth not by nature but of free mercie and grace Gen. chap. 27. 40. compared with Rom. 9. vers 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. Iaakob prophesied of the seuerall blessings which he knew that God would a long time after his death bestowe vpon the twelue tribes or kindreds which were to be the posteritie of the twelue Patriarches his children He prophesied also that the Messiah should come of the tribe of Iudah Gen. 49. Ioseph foretold the dearth of seuen yeares which God would send vppon the world after seuen former yeares of plenty immediatly fore-running and therefore he may well stand among the Prophetes as one in that number whereof the Lord speaketh saying Touch not mine annointed and doe my Prophetes no harme Psal. 105. 15. Moses was a Prophet most famous mightie both in word and in deed all the time of his ministerie and seruice to God touching the deliuerance of his people out of the bondage of Egypt and also in respect of his gouernement afterward Deut. ch 18. vers 18. and chap. 34. 10 11 12. and Act. 7. 22. Read also for a proofe of the excellent spirit of prophesie which was in him the holy Songs and Psalmes which he hath left in writing Exod. chap. 15. and Deut. 31. 22 and ch 32. and Psal. 90. which according to the title thereof is a Psalme which Moses the man of God did indite Miriam also the sister of Moses was a Prophetesse in the same time that Moses liued Exo. 15. 20. Moreouer in his dayes God gaue the spirit of prophesie for a certaine season to seuenty Ancients of Israel al at one time of the which number Eldad and Medad had the same their extraordinary gift continued longer vnto them then had the rest Numb chap. 11. ver 24 25 26 27 28 29. Balaam though otherwise of a wicked mind euen such a one as loued the wages of vnrighteousnesse according to that marke whereby the Apostle Peter brandeth him 2. ep 2. 15. yet he was guided by the Spirit of God to vtter a true and holy prophesie concerning the happie estate of Israel aboue all other people vnder the most gratious protection and blessing of God and namely for that the Messiah as it were a most bright starre should arise from among them c. Numb chap. 23. and chap. 24. Wherefore albeit he was a wicked man yet in so much as God vsed him as his instrument inlightned for the time to giue forth this so holy a prophesie we may not altogether vnfitly rehearse him in this respect among the holy Prophets of God Consider here whether Heman and Ethan the Ezrahites who wrote the 88. and the 89. Psalmes were before Moses in time as their Psalmes stand in order of number before his in the booke of the Psalmes Verily if it may be affirmed as some learned men doe iudge and as it is very likâ—… that they were the same of whom mention is made both 1. King chap. 4. vers 30. and also 1. Chron. chap. 2. vers 6. that is to say if they were the sonnes of Zarah the neare posteritie of Iudah by Thamar of whom we reade Genes chap. 38. vers 30. then also it is very likely that they were before Moses or at least his equalles in time or shortly after him And so consequently their Psalmes specially that of Ethan which is the 89.
Psalme it must needs from so ancient a time be to be esteemed an admirable prophesy cōcerning Dauids annointing to the kingdom by Samuel his prosperous successe in obteining of the same 300 yeares at the least before Dauid was born like as king Iosiah was by name prophesied of as touching that which he should do aboue 300 years before his birth as we are afterward more exactly to obserue also concerning the afflictions of the Church bewailed therein euen such afflictions as fell vpon it in the captiuity of Babylon which fell out as long a time after that King Dauid was dead But grant that they were that Heman and Ethan which are recorded 1. Chron. 6. 33. and vers 44. likewise chap. 25. ver 4 5 6. concerning Heman both which were yet of another tribe that is of Leui when those named cap. 2. are of Iudah as hath bene already shewed but grant I say that they were those who liued not only in K. Dauids time as being his Seets or Prophets which yet is only sayd of Heman 1. Chron. 25. 5. that also in respect of his singing of Propheticall Psalmes such as king Dauid indited not because himselfe did prophesie Grant notwithstanding I say againe that they liued not onely in king Dauids time but also in king Salomons dayes yea that they suruiued him and saw also as some thinke that miserable hauocke which Shishak king of Egypt made in the cities of Iudah in the house of God the treasures whereof he caried away c. as we reade 2 Chron. ch 12. in the reigne of Rehoboam after that Salomon was dead Yet Ethans Psalme must needes be taken for a propheticall instruction touching a great part of it as being fitted to be a monument for the direction of the Church how to comfort it selfe and to bemone the owne calamitie in the most doleful and distressed estate which the Prophet by the Spirit of God foresaw that it should afterward fall into So then these two were indued with a notable gift of prophesie although it be not granted that they were so ancient as that they should be reckoned in this second classis or company of Prophets Let vs proceed to the third company Prophetes such as were in the time of the Iudges and so forth to the beginning of the reigne of the Kings DEborah was a Prophetesse about 80 yeers after the death of Ioshua Iudges chap. 4. 4. At that time Deborah a Prophetesse the wife of Lapidoth iudged Israel Reade her excellent song as it followeth in the fift chapter In the second chapter of the first book of Samuel vers 27. c. A Prophet is sent to Eli to prophesie against him his children and posteritie which was partly fulfilled chap. 4. read also 1. Kin. chap. 2. 27. All Israell from Dan to Beersheba knew that in the dayes of Eli faithfull Samuel was the Lords Prophet 1. Sam. 3. 20. He prophesied first against the sonnes and posterity of Eli verses 11 12 13 c. according to the prophesie of the man of God euen now mentioned vnlesse rather we vnderstand that to be written concerning Samuel himselfe See Tremelius Iunius in their annotations vpon that place Read also Act. 3. 22. Neither must Hannah the mother of Samuel be forgotten when we speake of such women as God graced with his excellent gift of Prophesie as her prayer and thanksgiuing giueth vs to vnderstand from the beginning of the second chapter of the first booke of Samuel And the rather wil we iudge so if we compare her speech with the thanksgiuing of the virgin Marie for we shall perceiue that Hannah was enlightened to haue a respect vnto Christ in her magnificent description of the most mighty power of God ioyned with his most rich and tender mercie which also is the argument of the virgin Maries Magnificat In the time that Samuel annointed Saule to be ◅ing of Israell mention is made of a companie of Prophetes which prophesied and that Saule himself a little while after he was annointed prophesied among them 1. Sam. chap. 10. 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. This prophesying no doubt was an excellent kind of vttering the excellent things of Gods spirituall kingdom from the inlightening of the Spirit of God according to the former groūds principles of prophesie contained in the bookes of Moses which were read and studied among the people of God Of this kind of prophesying we read againe in the same first booke of Samuel chap. 19. verses 18 19. c. where it is written that at Naioth in Ra◅ah there was a companie of Prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as one appointed ouer them And further that the messengers which Saule sent to apprehend Dauid were for the time so heauenly affected with that which they hard that they also brake forth to the magnifying of the name of God for the same things which he reuealed to thē This was done thrise by three seuerall companies of messengers the one sent after the other Last of all Saule himself went to Rama with an euil purpose against Dauid but the Spirit of God came vpon him also so that he laying aside his former mind as well as his warlike weedes he prophesied all that day and all that night Here we may see the most gratious and mightie power of the spirit of Prophesie to affect alter the minds of men to fill thē with spiritual ioy although we cannot reckē all those for holy Prophets of God who are thus sodainly affected with the spirit of Prophesie Neuerlesse by occasion hereof and specially because Saule for a time was as a Prophet among the Prophets let vs come to that company of true Prophets whereof we are to make rehearsall frō the beginning of the reigne of the kings of Iudah and Israell Prophetes such as were from the beginning of the reigne of the kings of Iudah and Israel the which we are to consider of vnder many companies But first concerning some of the Kings themselues KIng Dauid whom the Prophete Samuel at the commandement of God annointed to be king ouer Israel next after Saul he was himselfe a most excellent Prophete of God So it is testified of him Act. 2. 30. c. Seeing he was a Prophet saith the Apostle Peter and knew before that God had sworne c. he prophesied of the resurrection of Christ c. yea hee prophesied of the whole person and office of our Sauiour Christ touching euerie degree both of his humiliation and also of his exaltation as many of his Psalmes do plentifully declare Read Psal. 2. Psal. 16. Psal. 22. Psal. 45. Psal. 68. Psal. 110. and many other In K. Dauids reigne was the Prophet Nathan 2. Sam. 7. 2. c. ch 12. And the prophet G◅d who was called Dauids Seer 2. Sam. 24. 11. and 2. Chron. 29. 25. King Salomon was also a holy Prophete as his bookes the Prouerbes Ecclesiastes the
A BRIEFE CHRONOLOGIE OF THE HOLIE SCRIPTVRES AS PLAINE AND easie as may be according to the extent of the seuerall historicall bookes thereof Comprised first in a few Verses to a short viewe for some helpe of memorie and afterward more particularly layd forth and explaned for a further light to the course and proceeding of the holy Storie With a Catalogue of the holy Prophets of God as touching the times wherein they prophesied LONDON Printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man 1600. To the Reader NOt onely are the works of God to be reuerenced regarded in themselues but also in respect of the most wise and excellent course order of the contriuing and disposing of them God hath made all things beautifull in the time and season thereof Eccles. 3. 11. And Act. 15. 18. From the beginning of the world God knoweth all his workes saith the Apostle Iames. His meaning is that he knoweth them so that according to his foreknowledge he hath most wisely disposed euery one of them It must needs be acknowledged therfore that it is the dutie of all that desire to be wise in the Lord to seeke after the knowledge of him both in his workes and also in the orderly course of effecting them according as he himselfe hath in his holy Scriptures reuealed the same To this purpose is that which Moses writeth Deut. 4 32. Inquire now of the dayes that are past which were before thee since the day that God created man vpon the earth aske from the one end of the heauen to the other if there came to passe such a great thing as this or whether any such like thing hath bene heard c. And that which we reade in the 111. Psal. vers 2. 3. 4. c. The works of the Lord are great and ought to be sought out of all those that loue them His worke is beautifull and glorious his righteousnesse indureth for euer He hath made his wonderfull works to be had in remembrance c. And verily if we weigh things with a right iudgemen◅ we shal find that this is the very end wherefore God hath created time it selfe and placed the Sunne and the Moon in the firmament for the distinction of the day and the night and that they shuld be for signes and for seasons for dayes and for yeares for summer and for winter Gen. 1. 14. c. and chap. 8. 12. For these are but the Vshers as it were to point vs to the word of God as to the head master teacher of his schoole that frō thence we might learne not so much what God hath done in making the world for mā as what he hath done in the world for the praise of his glorie euer since he hath made the same and chiefly what course he hath taken for the renewing of the world euer since mankind hath corrupted and disordered the same For want of which obseruation our Sauiour Christ the true sunne of righteousnesse earnestly blameth the Iewes for that they obseruing the signes of faire and foule weather c. altogether neglected the signes of the time and season of his comming vnto them Mat. 16. 1. 2. 3. All the excellent works of God are so chained linked together that we cannot well know the latter without the knowledge of the former As a help therfore hereunto serueth this present Chronologising of the holy Scriptures Wherin two things haue bene intended and indeuoured the one plainnesse the other shortnesse and in either of them as much certainty as could be attained vnto for the helpe of the Christian Reader from the expresse and entier direction of the Scriptures themselues God of his mercie vouchsafe his blessing vpon it to all good ends and vses whereunto it may serue thee to his honor and glory euen for our Lord Iesus Christs sake Amen Thine in the Lord. R. A. A briefe Chronologie of the holy Scriptures Comprised first in a few verses SAcred Genesis first of all The Scripture storie doth contain Of yeers 2 thousands hundreds three And sixtie eight since world began The secōd Book which Moses wrot Cald Exodus of going out One hundred forty adding sixe This is the sum wherto t is brought The third of Leui bearing name Shewes many things but ekes the skore With neuer a yeer but Numery Hath thirty eight neer one more Then Deuteronomie doth supply All which that yeer to want we see So all fiue Books to thousands two Adde hundreds fiue fifty three Next Ioshua space of 17 yeares Iudges two hundreths ninetie nine The first of Samuel fourescore The next hath fortie Dauids reigne The first of Kings from Salomon Hath years one hundred seuenteen Next hundreths three forty and fiue As by due triall may be seene This Story reacheth to the time When captiue state to Iuda fell Yea to the yeare of fortie fiue That they were thr al in strāge Babel The books of dayes or Chronicles No longer Storie do set downe Saue fortie fiue to Cyrus reigne They make increase to seuentie one Then Ezra Nehem ' Esters book Shew captiue Iews sent home again Where they abode 4 hundred yeares Yea ninety more til Christ was slain For thus is Daniel rightly scann'd I meane the speech of Angel there Who thither frō thral seuenties end Defineth seuen times seuenty yeare So then since man was first create And likewise since his wofull fall Til Christ his deth t is thousāds three Hundreths nine sixty sixe in all Whence take we thirty three then There do remain but thousāds three And hundreths nine thirty three Til Christ took flesh to make vs free Now since that time how many yeres Haue passed iust by yeerly count He know'th but little that cānot tel The sum wherto they do amount But vse hereof what shuld be made Most wise may liue stil may learn Christ taking life and dying death To life doth cal frō sin doth warne For as he came in base estate And staid no whit the time once come So will he hast a glorious Iudge Of life death to giue last doome Repent therefore thy sin forsake Beleeue in him whō God hath sent Be sory for all dayes and times Wherin thou hast thy life mispent Thus times seasons if thou weigh The more exact the better stay But if thou do this vse neglect The greater skill the worse defect Thy friend doth friendly wish thee wel Let smal defalt not much offend One yeare yea more may pen escape But Gods accounts cā none amend In the yeare of the euerlasting reigne of our Lord Iesus Christ 1600. For he shal reigne for euer and of his kingdome there shal be no end Luke 1. 33. In the yeare of the worlds decay 5533. For the heauens and the earth waxe olde as doth a garment and as a vesture they shal be changed Psal. 102. 26. And 1. Cor. 7. 31. The fashion of this world goeth away And
were led into captiuity as is euident in the same first chapter of Daniel And that the captiuitie of Iuda began at this time though it was increased twise after 2. King 24. 10 c. and chap. 25. 1. c. Reade Matth. chap. 1. verse 11. compared with 2. Chron. 36. 9. Where see the note of Tremelius and Iunius for the opening of that place by another like place 2. Kin. chap. 16. 2. and also how that which is written 2. Chron. 36. 9. agreeth with 2. King 24. 8. For by this conference of places it is manifest that Iehoiachin was eight yeares old not when he himselfe but when Iehoiakim began to reigne Neare vpon which time the Euangelist Matthew in the place before cited beginneth the captiuitie writing thus Iacim he meaneth Iehoiakim begate Iechonias that is Iehoiachin and his brethren about the time they were caried away to Babylon FOr from the beginning of the fourth yeare of Iehoiakim recken the rest of his reigne which was 8 yeares 2. King chap. 23. 36. ch 24. 12. in so much as the 8. yeare of the reigne of the king of Babell was the eleuenth yeare of Iehoiakim and adde moreouer to these eight yeares of Iehoiakim those 37 which followed from the carying away of Iehoiachin the sonne of Iehoiakim to Babell vntill Iehoiachin was there aduaunced as we sawe before with the which aduancement of Iehoiachin the second booke of Kings is concluded and so we haue the storie continued till 45 yeares after that the captiuitie of Iuda began 1. Booke of CHRONICLES THe first booke of Chronicles so called in Greeke after the Hebrue inscriptiō which is the first Booke of dayes or times it is onely an abridgement of the whole historie of the holy Bible from the beginning of the world to the end of king Dauids reigne sauing that the genealogies of Israell are described more at large chap. 2. c. 2. Booke of CHRONICLES continueth the Storie 25 yeares longer then 2. Kings THis second booke of Chronicles beginning at king Salomōs reigne carieth forth the storie of the second booke of Kings no further then to the first yeare of Cyrus king of Persia that is only 25 yeares beyond the extent of that second booke of Kings For the captiuitie beginning at the first yeare of Nebuchadnezzar and continuing all the time of his reigne yea also vnder the reigne of Euil-merodach as was alleaged before and yet further vnto the death of Belshazzar Dan. chap. 5. and chap. 7. 1. and chap. 8. 1. and Ier. 25. 26. where the Prophet prophesieth against this drunken king vnder the name of Sheshach which word in the Babylonian tongue noteth the solemnizing of some feast as it were to Bacchus See the note of Tremelius Iunius vpon that place of Ierimiah The captiuity I say thus beginning at the first yeare of Nebuchadnezzar and continuing to the first yeare of Cyrus whereat the second booke of Chronicles endeth it is the space onely of 70 yeares Reade 2. Chron. 36. 21. 22. and Ezra 1. 1. c. and Dan. 9. 1. c. So then to out former summe of 345 yeares contained in the Storie of the second booke of Kings that is to the 45. yeare of the captiuitie of Iuda we haue in this second booke of Chronicles onely the addition of 25 yeares to make vp the number of 70 which was the end of the same captiuitie EZRA NEHEMIAH and DANIEL 490 yeares IN the dayes of Ezra Nehemiah and Daniel many thousands of the Iewes being by the conduct of Zerubbabel and other Princes and namely of Sheshbazzar that Tirshatha or Commissioner whom king Cyrus had appointed chiefe Prince of Iuda to put them in possession of their land by his authoritie Ezra ch 2. 1. 2. verse 36. and chap. 5. 14. 15. 16. Whether Zerubbabel or rather one properly named Sheshbazzar were that Tirshatha or Commissioner as afterward it is recorded that Nehemia was for his time Tirshatha or the kings Commissioner Nehem. chap. 8. verse 9. and chap. 10. 1. the Iewes I say being thus by thousands returned to their owne land whereunto God of his most gratious goodnesse had restored them they do earnestly indeuour to reedifie the holy citie and temple of Ierusalem which Nebuchadnezzer had burnt in the 19. yeare of his raigne 2. King 25. 8. 9. 10. they were through the same most gratious goodnesse of God setled to remaine and abide therein from the time of that their returne to the death of our Sauiour Christ that is by the space of 490 yeeres Dan. 9. 24. c. In the which space also they enioyed the gratious and comfortable protection of God vnder the reigne of the kings of the Medes Persians for the first 100 of those yeares more But let vs consider of this portion of the holy history more particularly And first concerning the booke of Ezra EZRA THe booke of Ezra continuing the holy historie from the returne of Iuda out of their captiuitie vnto the time that the Temple and citie of Ierusalem was built which was the space of 49 yeares to wit from the first yeare of Cyrus to the twentith yeare of Darius the son of Ahashuerosh whom it is thought Queen Ester bare vnto him concerning which space of time vnto the building of the Temple finished read Daniel chap. 9. 25. where the Angel informed Daniel that it should be performed in the first seuen times seuen yeares that is in 49 yeares it reporteth the Storie in this order Cyrus King of Persia proclaimed liberty to the Iewes to returne to their land yea he gaue thē his princely incouragement and furtherance towards the building of the Temple and citie of Ierusalem for the worship of the true God of Israell Ezra chap. 1. And this no doubt he did with the consent of Darius who was of the seed of the Medes and was made King of the Chaldeans These two kings and their kingdomes being confederate together in one monarchie Dan. chap. 5. ver 28. 31. and chap. 6. 1. 2. 3. 8. c. and chap. 9. 1. 2. likewise Ester 1. 3. 19. So thē the Iewes in the second yeare of their comming laid the foundation of the Temple chap. 3. 8. Neuerthelesse shortly after they had done so they were forthwith hindred from proceeding in the worke of the Lord by diuerse malicious aduersaries who laboured their hindrance to the vttermost of that they could any way procure The worke therfore stayed euen from the third yeare of Cyrus that it could not prosperously goe forward vntill the second yeare of Darius the sonne of Ahashuerosh of whom mention was made a litle before Ezra chap. 4. vers 5. 24. and Zacharie chap. 1. 1. This second yeare of Darius was the 32. yeare after the Iewes returne as may easily be perceiued in so much as the 19. year of the same Darius which was the yeare before Nehemiah came in commission for the finishing of the walles and
the appearance of our Sauiour he was acknowledged by the Spirit of prophesie When the time came that he should be more fully manifested to all Israel which was when he was about thirtie yeares of age Luke 3. 23 Iohn the Baptist being a Prophet yea greater then a Prophet Luke 7. 26. He did not onely point Christ out personally when hee shewed himselfe but he preached assuredly that he should shew himselfe before he had seene him therefore baptized the people into his name who should shortly shew himselfe to be the Sauiour among them As touching our Sauiour himselfe we know that he was the Prince of Prophets most mightie in word and deed to whom all the Prophets giue witnesse and whom God promised to raise vp as one of whom Moses was but a certaine figure and type Luke chap. 24. verse 19. and verses 25 26. 27. Read also Deut. chap. 18. 15. Act. 3. 22. 23. 24. and chap. 10. 38. 43. He hath reuealed most clearely the secretes of the kingdome of heauen euen from the bosome and counsell of the Father Isai. chap. 9. 6. Iohn 1. 18. By his Spirit all the former Prophetes prophesied according to that which is written concerning Noah 1. Pet. 3. 18 19 20. He foretold the destruction of Ierusalem which accordingly came to passe as also that many Antichrists should rise vp as since they haue done namely in the succession of the Antichrist of Rome and finally that he will come againe at the last day to iudge the world which shall as certainly be perfourmed in due time by him as anie thing which he hath foretold is already accomplished in the season thereof Finally after the ascension of our Sauiour Christ vp into heauen from the which time the gifts of the holy Ghost were aboundantly poured downe vpon the Church many were furnished with the gift of Prophesie for so we read Ephes. 4. 11. He gaue some to be Apostles some Prophetes c. See the proofe of it Act. chap. 11. 27 28. In those dayes came Prophetes from Ierusalem to Antiochia Of the which one named Agabus foretold the great famine which came vpon all the world vnder Claudius the Emperour The same Agabus foretold the afflictions of Paule Act. 21. 10. 11. And in the same chapter vers 8. 9. Saint Luke reporteth that Philip the Euangelist had foure daughters which did prophesie Reade againe chap. 19. 6. Paule layd his hands on cercertaine Disciples of Ephesus and they spake with tongues and prophesied The Apostle Paule himselfe by the spirite of prophesie foretold the time of the rising of Antichrist that he should fall againe 2. Thes. chap. 2. So doth the Apostle Iohn in the booke of the Reuelation chap. 17. where also he noteth out the place and seat of Antichrist by such a descrption of it as agreeth only to Rome Yea in that booke he describeth very liuely the afflictions of the Church such as should fall vpoÌ„ it euen to the end of the world And last of all how glorious the estate thereof shall be thenceforth when Christ shal once haue perfected the mariage betwixt himselfe and it And thus the whole Prophesie of the holy Scriptures is with that propheticall booke sealed and shut vp Reuel chap. 22. 18. 19. 20. 21. The Conclusion THis constant spirit of Prophesie as it were the lode-starre or haruenger of time and the certaine performance of all things in their proper seasons euen as they were foretold as well the more particular as the more generall Prophesies and that also concerning all forreigne and heathen nations as wel as concerning Iudah and Israell according as holymen of God spake not of priuate motion but as they were moued and guided by the holy Ghost as the Apostle Peter testifieth 2. ep ch 1. 20 21. Inso much as we may say generally according to that we reade Amos 3. 7. Surely the Lord hath done nothing but he hath reuealed his secret to his seruants the Prophets And chiefly the constant foretelling performance of al things concerning Christ Iesus our Lord and his kingdom concerning euery part of his humiliation and the whole glorie which was to followe according as the Prophetes are said to haue searched into these things 1. Pet. 1. 10. 11. This constant and certaine spirit of Prophesie I say giueÌ„ to the Church from time to time for the clearing confirming of that foundation of all prophesie which God himselfe had layd from the beginning as was sayd before and which wee reade of Gen. 3. 15. c. in that he hath by his owne voyce published that the seed of the womaÌ„ should breake the serpents head according also to that which is written that God is the father of Prophetes and that his Spirit is the Spirit of prophesie 1. Sam. 10. 5 6 10 11 12. and chap. 19. 20. c. It is an infallible confirmation of the truth of our Christian religion and of the certaintie of Gods determinate counsell and most vigilant prouidence in the continuall ordering and gouerning of his Church and all the holie affaires and ordinances giuen vnto it from the beginning to the end according to that which the Lord himselfe saith Isai 46. 9. 10. Remember the former things of olde for I am God and there is no other God and there is no king like me Who declareth the last thing from the beginning from of olde the things that were not done saying My counsell shall stand and I will doe whatsoeuer I will And as the Apostle Iames saith as was alleadged before Act. 15. 18. From the beginning of the world God knoweth all his works that is to say he so knoweth them that he hath a care to accomplish and performe them euerie one in the time and season thereof according to his owne counsell and appointment with himselfe And now further let vs diligeÌ„tly obserue that the certainty of al things already accomplished according to the prophesies formerly giueÌ„ forth of them ought to be a like vndoubted confirmation of our faith in the assured expectation of all things foretold whatsoeuer the holy scriptures certifie vs to be yet vnfulfilled Such as are the full consumption and abolishment of Antichrist by the brightnesse of the Lords comming 2. Thes. 2. 8. That the Lord will from time to time call home his full number both of the lost Iewes and also of the Gentiles to the faith and saluation of Christ euen to the end of the world Rom. 11. 25. c. and Matth. 24. 31. That there shal be a general resurrection of the dead a generall iudgement vpon all men either to perpetuall woe and misery or to eternall happinesse and glorie Mat. 25. 31. The vse of which our faith and perswasion of the whole ground warrantise therof ought finally and for our full conclusion to be this that we being afore hand made priuie to all these holy secretes of God being in vndoubted expectation of the fulfilling of theÌ„ chiefly of the comming of our Sauiour Christ to iudgement should according to the most holy instruction of the Gospell both learne and practise more and more to denie all vngodlines worldly lusts and to liue soberly and iustly and godly in this present world Tit. 12. 1. 12. c. God of his infinite mercie vouchsafe vs his grace so to do euen for the same our Lord Iesus Christs sake Amen The few errata escaped in some bookes of this Impression To the Reader lin 11. In for It. Pag. 20. lin penult in is wanting Pag 36. lin vlt. adout for about Pag. 38. Titus and Vespasian by a misplacing of the words for Vespasian and Titus 3933 from the beginning of thâ—… world to the birth oâ—… Christ anâ—… 1600 to thâ—… preseÌ„t yerâ—… since his birth they make this totall sum of the old age of the world 5533. From Aâ—… to the dâ—… luge werâ—… ten generations 1. Shethâ—… who suppâ—… eth the roome oâ—… Abel whâ—… Cain sleâ—… 2. Enosh 3. Kenan Mahalaleel Iered Henoch Methuah Lamech Noah 〈◊〉 Shem. From thâ—… deluge or drowning of the world to the birth Isaak in whoÌ„ al tâ—… nations oâ—… the earth are blesseâ—… there werâ—… likewise tâ—… generatioÌ„s 1. Arpacâ—… shad 2. Shelah 3. Eber. 4. Peleg 5. Reu. 6. Serug 7. Nahor 8. Terah 9. Abram 10. Isaak Iaakob Ioseph Moses Departure â—…ut of Egypt Giuing of â—…he law The Taâ—…ernable â—…rected Ioshua God stirred vp 13 mightie Iudges for the deliuerance of Israel after the death of Ioshuah 〈◊〉 Othniel 2. Ehud 3. ShaÌ„gar 4. Deborah 5. Gideon 6. Abimelech 7. Tolah 8. Iaire 9. Iphtah 10. Ibsan 11. Elon 12. Abdon 13. Samson Eli. Samuel Saule Dauid The first â—…ooke of Kings conâ—…aineth the â—…istory of 5 â—…ings of â—…uda 〈◊〉 SalomoÌ„ 〈◊〉 Rehoboâ—…am 〈◊〉 Abiiam 4. Asa. 5 Ichoshaphat The secoÌ„d booke of Kings containeth the historie or 15. kings of Iuda beside queen Athaliah who maketh vp the number of 16. 1. Iehoram 2. Ahaziah Athaliah 3. Iehoash 4. Amazia 5. Azariah or Vzziah 6. Iotham 7. Ahaz 8 Hezekiah 9. Manasses 10. Amon. 11. Iosiah 12. Iehoahaz 13. Iehoiakim 14. Iehoiachin 15. Zedekiah The Captiuitie of Iuda beginneth Yeeres 45 from the beginning of the captiuity to the end of the second booke of Kings The captiuity of Iuda endeth The return of Iuda out of their â—…aptiuity Ezra Nehemiâ—… Ester Daniel The appearing manifestation of Christ as also the time of his death The time of the casting off of the Iewes The time of the calling of the Gentiles â—…rch â—…ng 〈◊〉 The peace of the church mixed with sundry afflictions The rising of Antichrist Mat. 24. 24. Luk. 21. 8. The fall of Antichrist The last iudgemeÌ„t The first classis or companie of Prophets The secoÌ„d classis or coÌ„panie of Prophets The third classis or coÌ„pany of Prophets The fourth Classis oâ—…â—…oÌ„pany of Prophets The fift Classis or coÌ„pany of Prophets â—…he sixth â—…assis or â—…pany of â—…rophets The seâ—… classis oâ—… coÌ„pany Prophâ—… â—…e eighth â—…is or â—…panie 〈◊〉 The last classis or coÌ„panie of Prophets
declare And these were the Prophetes which God of his great mercy and goodnesse sent more specially to Iudah and the kings thereof after that the ten tribes were departed from them Prophetes which the Lord sent to the tenne tribes of Israel and to the Kinges thereof after that they were departed from the tribe of Iudah VVE may not vnfitly begin this company of holy Prophetes with Ahijah the Shilonite of whom we read 1. King chap. 11. 29. c. He is that Prophet whom the Lord sent to prophesie vnto Ieroboam the son of Nebat that it was the purpose of God to rend the kingdome out of the handes of Salomon to make him king ouer ten tribes of Israell This was the iudgement of God against the sin of Salomon and of the people in his latter time for that they forsooke the Lord and worshipped the idols of the heathen as it followeth in the same eleuenth chapter vers 33. The accomplishment of which prophesie reade in the very next chapter euen shortly after the Prophesie was vttered to Ieroboam read chap. 12. ver 15. c. In the reigne of this Ieroboam in so much as he contrary to the will and commandement of God set vp idolattie to serue his owne wicked deuise and policie for the preuenting of the pebples reuolt which he suspitiously scared the Lord therefore sent a Prophere out of Iudah vnto Bethel in Israel the chiefe place of his new erected idolatrie euen at such time as he himselfe was dedicating the altar which he had made chap. 12. 26. c. 33. And the Prophete prophesying against his idolatrie telleth Ieroboam standing by his altar to offer incense that a child should be borne to the house of Dauid Iosiah by name who should breake down his altar and destroy the Priests of his high places ch 13. 1. c. The accomplishment whereof reade 2. King ch 23. 15 c. 20. This Prophesie did the Prophet giue forth about three hundreth and thirtie yeares before king Iosiah was borne This Prophet was he who harkening to the lye of that old Prophet of Bethel was for his transgressing of Gods commandement in that he eat and dranke in the place wherof God had said vnto him Thou shalt neither eat nor drink he was therefore killed in the way by a Lyon which met him Neuerthelesse as it may seeme for a monument of Gods mercie in forgiuing the sin of this Prophet he restrained the Lyon from deuouring his body as it is recorded in the same 13. chapter Reade also 2. King 23. 17. 18. In the reigne of the same Ieroboam the ancient Prophet Ahijah of Shilo who at the beginning told Ieroboam that he shold be king ouer the ten tribes of Israel he is now afterward toward the end of his wicked idolatrous reigne euen then when Ahijah could not see through the decay of his sight by reason of age the minister of God to prophesie against Ieroboam and his posteritie 1. King chap. 14. 2. 4. c. 18. This was fulfilled after that Nadab the sonne of Ieroboam had reigned two yeares For Baasha conspired against Nadab and slew him first thē also he smote all the house of Ieroboam according to the word of the Lord which he spake by his seruant Ahijah the Shilonite So we reade chap. 15. vers 27. 29. In the dayes of king Baasha who began his reigne ouer Israel in the third yeare of Asa king of Iuda Iehu the sonne of Hanani prophesied against Baasha like as the former two Prophetes had prophesied against Ieroboam 1. King 16. 1. c. In the dayes of Ahab who began his reigne ouer Israel in the 38. yeare of Asa king of Iuda prophesied Elijah that mightie Prophete of the Lord against Ahab his posteritie 1. King 17. c. He reduced the people of Israel to the acknowledgement of the true God of Israel He prophesied likewise by writing against Iehoram the son of Iehoshaphat who left the good waies wherin his father had walked followed the wicked wayes of the kings of Israel For as the holie Storie saith he had the daughter of Ahab to wife and he wrought euill in the eyes of the Lord and compelled Iudah so to do Wherfore the Lord by his Prophet Elijah sent a grieuous prophesie threatening fearefull diseases and a horrible death against him which also tooke effect as we read 2. Chron. 21. Michaiah also the sonne of Imlah prophesied against wicked king Ahab 1. King 22. And before him another Prophet whose name is not expressed chap. 20. 41 42. But verses 13. 14 22. and verses 28 29. God sent a Prophete to prophesie vnto him his double victorie ouer the great armie of the Aramites In the reigne of Iehoram the sonne of Ahab and so forth vnto the reigne of Ioash the sonne of Iehu prophesied Elisha the prophet who succeeded Elijah in Israel 2. King chap. 3. c. and ch 13. vers 14. c. But before Elisha had receiued of the Spirit of Elijah the children of the Prophetes both they of Bethel and other which were at Iericho prophesied that God would in extraordinarie maner take away Elishaes master that is Eljiah from him 2. King chap. 2. 3. 5. In the reigne of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioash prophesied Ionah the sonne of Amittai who was of Gath Hepher 2. King 14. 25. This was the same Ionah whom the Lord sent about the mid dle time of the reigne of Ieroboam to prophesie against Nineueh as we shal see further anon Prophetes vvhich prophesied more iointly both cōcerning Iuda also concerning Israel after their separation yea and some of thē euen after the captiuities of either of them HOsea prophesied in the reigne of the same kings of Iudah when Isaiah prophesied to wit in the dayes of Vzziah Iotham Ahaz and Hezekiah with whom also are mentioned the dayes of Ieroboam the sonne of Ioash king of Israell chap. 1. 1. of his prophesie to the end that Israel might the rather be admonished that his Prophesie belonged to them as ◅el as it did vnto Iudah for the reproofe of their sinnes for the comfort of either of them if they would repent and lay hold of the promises of the gospel which he by the spirit of prophesie published as belonging to them both In the reigne of the same Vzziah king of Iudah and in the the reigne of Ieroboam the son of Ioash king of Israel two yeares before the earthquake which was not long after the beginning of the reigne of Vzziah the Prophet Amos prophesied concerning Iudah and Israel though chiefly and for the most part concerning Israel chap. 1. 1. c. He prophesied particularly against Amaziah that malignant and proud priest of Bethel chap. 7. He prophesied also of the destruction of Ierusalem and of the captiuitie and restoring of the people of Iudah and Israel Finally he prophesied of the calling both of the Iewes and Gentiles