Law those two I Iders were punished with death By which Iudgement Daniel afterwards obtained great renowne and authority amongst the people God told him many things by Gabriel the Angel concerning the Kings of Persia-Greece and Egypt also concerning the Kingdome of Christ the restitution of Jerusalem and the bringing back of the Jewes which are set downe in the booke which by his name is reckoned amongst those of the Bible He died at Babylon and was buried in the Kings Cave as Epiphanius writeth who saith also that his sepulchre in his time was very well knowne to all Habbakkuk the Prophet CHAP. XXIX HAbbakkuk the Prophet was of the Country of Bezzocherene of the Tribe of Simeon as Epiphanius saith and he fled having left his Country into Ostracina a country of the Ismaelites when he heard that Nebuchadonosor came with a mighty Army to destroy the City Hierusalem There he dwelt untill he was certified that the Chaldees having taken and demolished the City were returned with spoiles and poisoners into their Country and the rest of the Jews amongst whom was Hieremias and Baruch were gone to dwell in Egypt as I have exprest in their life for than he returned into his Country After his returne in what yeare it is uncertaine he had sown some Barly and when the harvest came had let it out to reapers to be cut down and bound up in sheaves And when he carried them their Dinner an Angell of God appearing unto him bad him carry it to Daniel who was in the Lions Den in Babylon He made answer to the Angell that he had never seen Babylon and that he did not know the Den whereupon he carried him by the haire of his head and set him by the mouth of the Den calling Daniel by name from the mouth of the Den he told him of the Dinner that God sent him whereupon Daniel blessing God who was not unmindfull of them that trusted in him and having given him thankes for that benefit had taken the pottage and the bread sopt in it out of Habbakkuks hand the Angel of God in a moment of time set him againe in the same place There be some that affirme Epiphanius for one that he who knew that thing would be so before he was carried thither did tell his servants aforehand that he should go a great way off and come againe presently but if he should be too long away they should get the reapers some meat and that he came againe that very day and came in amongst the Reapers just as they were at their supper In the holy Bible there is reckoned a very little book intituled by his name In the beginning of the book he expostulates with God more earnestly why the wicked should overcome and afflict the Godly but after God had foretold of the comming of Christ who should free and preserve the good he became more patient and concludes with prayers which do shew the vertue and power of Christ He died in Judaea two yeares before the Jewes were brought back from Caldaea the fifteenth of January as Epiphanius saith and his body by Gods discovery was found when Arcadius was Emperour Sophonias the Prophet CHAP. XXX SOphonias the Prophet was the son of Cushi of the Tribe of Simeon He prophesied what is written in the book of holy Scripture which is called by his name when Josias the son of Amon was King of Judah First he terrifieth and afterwards comforreth he foretelleth the Captivity of the Jews for the wickednesses which he reckons up first of all and then of the Princes and Judges and for terrors sake he cals the day by such names as use to strike terror into men He foretels also the destruction of many Nations as of the Ethiopians Assyrians Moabites and Philistines In the latter end of his book he treats of the comming and resurrection of Christ and the conversion of the Centiles unto him He dyed and was buried alone in his owne country as Epiphanius saith Aggaeus the Prophet CHAP. XXXI AGgaeus at Gods Commandement underwent he duty of a Prophet when he was but a very young man in the second yeare of Darius Hystaspes first unto Zorobabell the sonne of Salathiel and Jesus the sonne Josedec the Priest and afterwards unto the Priests The occasion of his prophesie was this When in the first yeare of King Cyrus the people of the Jewes who were at his Command brought back againe to Hierusalem to build the Temple of God said that the time of building was not yet come God sent Aggaeus to tell Zorobabell the governour and Jesus the sonne of Jozedec that the people spake falsely that the time of building Gods house was not yet come seeing it was come and that for that reason because the building was omitted what they had sowne in great abundance had afforded slender profit the raine being withheld from it And that therefore they should diligently begin and dispatch the work These two men liked well of this word of Aggaeus or rather of God and by their meanes all the people And when the work was begun in the twentie fourth day of the sixth month of that same yeare hee was againe sent to these two whom I spoke of and to the rest of the people First to exhort these two to goe on because God would helpe them and then to tell them all that that new Temple should exceed the old one in glory because of Gods comming which was at hand In the twenty fourth day of the ninth month he was sent again to tell them having wrested a confession from the Priests by a simile and an induction that those gifts were not very welcome and acceptable which they brought to God in the Temple and that the worke of laying the foundation of the Temple was so pleasing to him that for the future he would increase their come Being sent againe the same day under the name of Zorobabell he foretold the comming and glory of Christ This Aggaeus at Gods bidding did not onely tell Zorobabel and Jesus the Priest that the time of building the Temple was come but also when they believed him he helped them in finishing the worke not onely as a workeman but also by a new kinde of singing for there he and Zacharias the Prophet are said to have first sung an Hallelujah which being an Hebrew word signifieth the same that praise yee the Lord. Therefore the hymne and praise of Aggaeus and Zacharias is called Hallelujah he died at that same place and was buried with honour by the Sepulchres of the Priests Zacharias the Prophet CHAP. XXXII ZAcharias the Prophet was the sonne of Barachias who was the sonne of Addon He began to prophesie the same yeare that Aggaeus that is in the second yeare of Darius the King but in the eighth month whereas he beganne the first day of the sixth month But he prophesied longer then he and to more For he performed the Office of a Prophet in the fourth
desired that forasmuch as he was grown ancient and his sonnes did not walke in his waies hee would grant and appoint them a King whom they might make use on for a Judge that saying displeased Samuell and therefore he thought it best to advise with God God bade him doe as they had desirod for that they had not rejected and cast off Samuell but himselfe that he might not rule over them And he showed him Saul the sonne of Kish whom he should annoint and ordaine King 1 Sam. 10. when he had found him because he was taller then any man by the shoulders he bad all the people see how that none was like him whom God had chosen and when they had cried God save their new King verse 24. after he had told them the Law of the Kingdome and writ it and laid it up in the Tabernacle he blessed the people After this by recitall of Gods benefits which they and their fathers had alwayes neglected he made knowne to them what a grievous sin they had committed when they asked a King Which that they might the better understand there were thunder-claps heard raine poured downe at his request as he had told them aforehand it should come to passe at which so strange and usuall a matter being much affrighted they speake to him that he would beseech God that they might not dy forasmuch as they confessed they had grievously sinned in asking a King Samuell exhorted them at large to be of good courage and not to fear 1 Sam 12.3 for that they indeed had sinned exceedingly yet ought not to forsake God but serve him with all care earnestnes of Spirit scorning and neglecting the worship of strange Gods who seeing they were vaine and unprofitable could not be able to deliver from evill For thus it should come to passe that God would not forsake them for his great name seeing especially he had made it good with an oath that he would make them his people but it they should goe on to sin that both they and their King should perish Sect. 7. Saul being King had offered Sacrifices shortly after contrary to Gods command because Samuell came not within the 7 days 1 Sam. 13. in which time he had said that he would come and the Jewes slipt away for feare of the huge company of Philistines that came to battell when as Samuell coming in the mean while rebuked him sharply and foretold that the end of his Kingdome was at hand and that in his stead there should succeed a man that should be pleasing to God ver 13. A second time as Gods Propher he told Saul of the end or downfall of his Kingdome for the very same cause 1 Sam. 13. The Amalekites had made resistance to the Jews as they came out of Aegypt whose wrongs when God had purposed to revenge by Saul he sent Samuel to him to charge him that he should raise a mighty Army and utterly destroy Amaleck and all things that belonged to them But he spated King Agag when he was taken and reserved the Heards and the Flocks and all the things that were of any value Hereupon God told Samuel that he was displeased and that he repented that he had made Saul King who set light by his Commandements 1 Sam. 15. Upon these words of God and the thing which Saul had committed Samuel took such griefe that he spent the rest of the night in crying and praying and carely in the morning he hasted by long journeys to Saul whom when he had soundly chid having reckoned up Gods benefits towards him because he had not againe observed God and he on the contrary maintained that he had obeyed him and the people only had reserved the richest of the spoile that they might offer it to God he said that God did not desire sacrifices but willed rather that men should obey and keep his Commandements for obedience is better than sacrifice Therefore he should know and perswade himselfe thus much that he had rejected God and that he also was rejected by God from being King When Saul confessed that he had sinned against God and him for feare of the people and entreated him that he would also beare with his fault and go back with him to worship God and Samuel said he would not do so because God had despised him that he should not now be King over Israel he caught hold on the skirts of his mantle as he was going away with such a force as that it rent by which passage as by a token aforehand Samuel told him that God had rent away his Kingdom and given it to one better than he when againe he confessed that he had sinned and entreated Samuel that he would do him honour in the sight of the Princes and of his people and that he would returne with him that he might worship God he followed him and cut in peeces King Agag who was a corpulent man with these words As thy sword hath made mothers childlesse so shall thy mother be childlesse amongst women Sect. 8. After that Samuel went to his house in Ramath neither did he from that day forward see Saul whose chance and misfortune neverthelesse he was sorry for 1 Sam. 16. God rebuked him when he sorrowed and asked how long he would mourne for him whom he had put from his Kingdome And therefore he should fill a horne with oyle that he might send him to Jesse the Bethlehemite whose Son he had chosen King when he asked how he could go but he should be quickly killed by Saul when he knew it he shewed a way and a meanes how he might easily avoid his fury Thus at the last being very consident he went diligently and dutifully to execute what God had commanded him and he annointed David King whom God had manifested and shewed to him Sect. 9. Samuel after all these famous and holy performances dyed in a good old age at his own house in Ramath 1 Sam 25. which when the Jews knew of they all met and mourned for him and buried him there if we follow the Scries of those things which are written in the first booke of the Kings he will seeme to have dyed before Sauls death and the beginning of Davids Raigne or his taking upon him the Government and Kingly Office but if we respect those things which are written in the first booko of the Chronicles how that David and Samuel the Seer that is the Prophet chose two hundred and twelve Porters which are there reckoned a thing which doth not seem to ha have been done whilst Saul was living he did not die till after Sauls death Nathan the Prophet CHAP. III. Section 1 NAthan was Prophet when David was King of the kindred of Thot as Epiphanius saith who who also writeth that he was a man of Gabath and that he knew beforehand that grievous sin which David was to commit with Bersheba and that as he came a long journey to keep the King from
had beaten him into prison The next day very early when Phashur had brought him out whatever the cause was for I doe not finde it written Ieremiah constantly and freely maintained that he was not called Phashur by God but Magor-Missabib Ier. 20. feare on every side forasmuch as God would astonish him with feare and his friends so as that they should be run through with the enemies whilst hee looked on and that God would deliver all Iudah into the hands of the King of Babylon to be slaine and their riches for a spoile and Phashur himselfe should be led captive thither with all his family and die there and all his friends unto whom he prophesied lies What answer Phashur made to these words or what he did being moved with them is not foe down in the Scriptures Sect. 2. In the beginning of the raigne of Ichoiakim son of Iosiah as he stood in the court of the Temple he denounced to all that were come out of the Cities of Iudah and Ierusalem to worship God that unlesse they kept Gods Lawes both that should befall the Temple which besell Siloh and that all Nations should abhorre that City Ier. 26. The Priests false Prophets and people who had heard him speak these words apprehended him and said first among themselves afterwards to the Princes who having heard this doom of his went from the Palace into the Temple that for that matter he ought to be put to death But he having leave given him to speak told them that God had sent him to declare every word that he had spoken And therefore they should repent and observe Gods Commandements who thereupon also would repent and not bring the evill upon them that he had purposed ver 13. And as for him that he was in their hands that they might resolve what they would against him yet thus much they should understand know it they put him to death they should kill one that was innocent towards them and the City because God had sent him to prophesie all those things unto them ver 14. The great men and the Rulers being perswaded by these speeches perswaded the Priests and the false Prophets that they should not kill him that was sent by God And amongst these some Elders standing up altered their mindes by minding them of Micah the Prophet who when Hezekiah was King had foretold many things concerning the destruction of the City and for all that was not put to death but the men which lived that time appeased God by their repentance prayers and fears but herein the paines and diligence of Ahicam the son of Shaphan most of all appeared that he might not be put to death Sect. 3. In the same Kings Raigne God commanded Ieremiah to bring the posterity of Richab who were called Rechabites into the Temple and give them wine Now they had a command from Ionadah their father to abstaine from wine Therefore when Ieremiah had set wine before them at Gods cōmand they bringing this command of their Fathers for anexcuse refrained altogether from wine which had not been well done of them if he had said that God had commanded them this But God by this example of the Rechabites intended to show and shame the depraved and corrupted manners of the Jewes For he sent afterwards to Iieremias to tel them how grievously they offended because the Rechabites at their Fathers bidding abstained from wine all their whole life whereas he had endeavoured to draw them from their wicked course of life by his Prophets of whom he had sent a great many and could not because of their obstinate will hereupon also he denounced that the Jewes should be plagued with Famine Pestilence and captivity But to the Rechabites he promised that their posterity should never faile before him because they had obeyed their Fathers command with such constancy of spirit Sect. 4. And in the fourth yeare of the same King God commanded him that he should write in a booke all the miseries with which he would punish the Kingdomes of Israel and Iudah that when they should heare them read they might by repentance seek to appease Gods wrath against them Ier. 36. He was then as I said in prison therefore he sent for Baruch the sonne of Neriah a good man whom he bad first write in a book what he dictated and afterwards to rehearse it in the Temple whither he could not come on the fast day to all the people and all that came out of Iudah to worship that if they would believe those words which were rehearsed and live according to them they might find God more favourable unto them When he had done these things and at a set fast in the fifth yeare of the same King and the ninth month had rehearsed them all Michaiah the soune of Gemariah told them all to the chiefe men of the Court and they sent Iehudi the sonne of Nethaniah to command him that he should bring the role to them When he was come hee read all out of the writing as they commanded and that with such admiration or aftonishment rather that they said they would acquaint the King with all those words yet first they enquired of him how he writ all those words When he had told them that he had taken all those words from the mouth of Ieremiah who dictared them as if he had read them out of a book and that he had written them all with ink then they advised him that he and Ieremiah would hide themselves some where so as no body might know it they gave the book to Elishama the scribe Then Iehudi at the Kings command began to reade the booke but after three or foure pages only were read the King cut it with a penknife and afterwards threw it into the fire nor could Elnathan Delaiah and Gemariah disswade him but that he would needs do the thing nor was Ichojakim content with this so grievous a wicked act but he also commanded Ierahmiel Hammelech and Seraiah the son of Azriel and Shelemiah the sonne of Abdul to apprehend Baruch the Scribe and Ieremiah the Prophet but God hid them from the Kings wrath But God was so offended with the burning of the book that he bad Ieremias to write the same role over againe and to adde thereunto many other things and to tell the King front him that there should remaine none of his posterity that should sit upon the throne but withall that his carkasse should be throwne out and that he his posterity and servants should be punished for their wickednesse and those evils should befall them the City and people which when they were foretold they had so neglected and slighted Ieremiah as he was commanded by God delivered the other book to Baruch whether Baruch read to the King himselfe or the people or both or what the King did or the rest is not set downe in the Scriptures The same Ieremiah in the beginning of the Raigne of Ichotakim
Take my brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and of patience Behold wee count them happy which endure ye have heard of the patience of Job etc. James 5.10.11 THE HOLY LIVES OF GOD'S PROPHETS By J. H. LONDON Printed for Wil Hope at the blew Anchor on the North side of the Royall Exchange 1654. To his worthily much Honoured Kinsman George Smith Esq Most worthy SIR SVch and so extraordinary are your Favours and so freely conferr'd upon me that I must needs acknowledge I am in a strict manner oblig'd to all opportunities of humble Gratitude Whereupon not without some praemeditation I have thought sit to take this and have adventured to publish to the world the Lives of these HOLY MEN under your Patronage who indeed for a kind of sympathy between you and them doe the rather owne you for their Patron For if you please but seriously to peruse them you may in many things read your selfe and find wherein you have made them the pious Presidents of your own good Works Of those as you well know my selfe have had no little experience a Theame too on which I might well inlarge my selfe but indeed such is my unhappinesse I want those abilities either by more excellent Art of Language to expresse them or any other way of service or respects to testifie sufficient thankefulnesse What need I then adde more seeing this little already said though but meane and according to my duty is I am confident above your expectation so little doe you delight in the resitall of your kindnesses or desire they should bee thus brought to your Remembrance your expectations as in a sutablenesse to your Christian Vertues await higher Rewards with those Pious Men before mentioned that as you have endeavoured to imitate their Lives so you may also partake with them in their Eternall Happinesse for the fruition whereof hee shall daily pray who in all duty subscribes himselfe Sir Yours most humbly observant J. H. Of the Lives and Noble Acts of Gods Prophets The Life of the Prophet JOB CHAPTER I. Section 1. THe Prophet Job who was also called Jobad as the seventy Interpreters relate in the end of the Book of Job or that book which is writ concerning Job was head of the fifth Family from Abraham as the same Interpreters deliver in the same place For Abraham begat Isaac Isaac Esau Esau Zara of his wife Basemath the daughter of Ishmael Zara Jobad who also is Job Sect. 2. This man although he lived amongst wicked and lewd people and dwelt in that Country called Aâ—…sotis or Hus in the borders of Idumaea yet was he not infected with any vice or lewdnesse from them but even from his childhood he eschewed vice and followed vertue with that resolution of spirit that he would never do otherwise than he ought even when he had lost all those things which mon esteeme most deare his Fotranes and Children and his whole body was so pestered with sores that his very friends could not endure to looke upon him which things because they be so excellent and make for his greater commendation than if he had moderately behaved himselfe only in prosperity I resolve to declare all severally that all men in adversity and misery may have a notable example set before them of this man Sect. 3. And because it is no great matter of praise nor any such rare vertue for a man to lose but an indifferent Estate and to beare out that misfortune gallantly we must understand this that Iob was no meane person nor one that had but a poore or slender Fortune for he was the second King of the Land of Edom inasmuch as he succeeded in the roome of Bela or Balach the first King And he was very rich for those times wherein mens wealth consisted much in flocks and heards it is therefore recorded in the Scriptures which mention that he was a wealthy person how that he had seven thousand Sheepe three thousand Camels five hundred yoake of Oxen and five hundred she Asses and a very great Family Now before I tell by what meanes all these things were taken from him and with what mind he bare the losse of them I will relate how he demeaned himselfe in his prosperity Sect. 4. Though he was a King and a Prince as I have said and one that had such a great Estate yet did he never misuse his Soveraignty or Authority to the injury of his Friends or Strangers like a proud man nor his goods to the satisfying of his lusts for in judgement he decided matters with such equity that when he went to the Gate of the City and had his seat prepared him in the Court The Courts were kept in the Gates of the Cities all that heard and saw him forasmuch as the Aged stood up to him and the Princes and Nobles forbore out of reverence to speake in his presence thought him happy and gave witnesse to him that he delivered the poore which cried and the fatherlesse which had none to help them the Cause which he understood not he searched out diligently lest if he should have passed sentence whilst the cause was unknown he might both have done wrong to another man and dishonour to himselfe Sect. 5. And how he behaved himselfe towards his equals or betters either in Sutes and Controversies which he had with them or in other dealings we may hence conceive in that he never refused a triall with his man or maid servant if at any time they would go to law with him besides in his whole life he was so full of liberality and pitty which had grown up with him from his infancy that he never eate a piece of bread alone without the fatherlesse he never denied poore people what they requested he never wearied out the people with delays he never saw men perish for lack of cloathing or any poor man to be without a covering Lastly he never suffered a stranger to tarry without doors but was willing to have his house lie alwayes open to the traveller so that he was an eye to the blinde a foot to to the lame a father to the poor which though they be great matters yet shall we cease to wonder at them if we doe but consider that contempt of riches which was in him For he neither placed his strength or confidence and hope in gold nor did he rejoyce in much wealth when he had got it Sect. 6. Let me now set forth his other vertues He did not love his friends onely but his foes also and enemies so as that he never rejoyced at their adversity he never spake against them he was so modest and chast that if ever woman had deceived his heart or if ever he had laid waite at his neighhours doore he did not refuse that his wife should be false to his bed ch 31. And of such integrity of heart such innocency of life and
and extold him exceedingly with true praise and having left the childe to minister before the Lord she returned home with her Husband There Samuels Ministry became so acceptable to God that he called him to the office of divining and foretelling things to come which we call Prophesie even from the beginning of his childhood after this manner Sect. 3. Haeli the Priest because he was old had made his two sons Ophni and Phinees Priests which office then had the chiefe power and soveraignty amongst the Jews by Gods appointment 1 Sam. 2. They in that office took to themselves the things that were offered contrary to Gods Command and besides they used to lye with the women which when Haeli their Father came to know of he chid them but did not correct them for it ver 24 25. Therefore God so disliked and detested his indulgency toward his children that he let him know by a Prophet whose name is not written that it should come to passe that his two sonnes Ophni and Phinees should dye in one day ver 34. because he had honoured them more then him and that he would raise up unto himselfe a faithfull Priest that should be obedient unto him in every thing he did Samuels ordination shortly after ensued upon this praediction of the Prophet for when he being but a child lay asleep in the Temple somewhat nigh unto Haeli the Priest God called him thrice and when being awakened he thought Haeli had come to call him he made answer three times that he was there at hand Haeli who understood not the matter sent him three times back againe to sleepe but when he perceived the third time that God had called him he bad him say to God that he was ready to heare and that he should therefore speake When Samuell had said so God rehearsed all those things touching Haeli which he had foretold him as I have said already by a Prophet God gave him no command that he should tell Haeli all those things but being as I may say adjured by him in certaine words which had in them the power of an oath he told him Sect. 4. Hereupon a report went farre and wide that Samuell was Gods faithfull Prophet and when Haeli dyed a little while after he became moreover Priest and Judge which was the supreame magistracy amongst the Hebrewes This he discharged with exceeding great integrity by the confession and testimony of all the people For when having made a King as they desired he had given them leave to speak freely that if any one would witnesse he had taken away any mans Oxe or Asle or had defrauded or oppressed any one or had received a bribe from any man he would make restitution they all said no and produced God as a witnesse of that matter which speech indeed as it is befitting all that performe any publike charge or businesse so I would to God they could truly use it with the Peoples testimony and confession joyned thereunto The same did he shew himselfe in managing and discharging the Priests Office for whereas it belongs to the Priest to offer sacrifice and to pray unto God for the people The people ever thought his prayers so acceptable to God and profitable for themselves that at the last when he had told them how grievously they had offended God desiring a King should be given to them then the people carnestly besought him that he would pray to God for them that they might not dye and he having cheared them up with many words spake thus most becomming a Priest God forbid that I should sin so fore against him as that I should cease to pray for you or to teach you the good and right way But of these things we must say something severally Sect. 5. God indeed as oft as he perceived his people Israel having contemned him to be turned to the worship and service of false Gods to recall and withdraw them therefrom was ever wont to provide them enemies that might oppresse them that being constrained as it were by the smart and neglecting and despising the service of false gods they might crave his succour a thing which I have often evidenced in the Book which I have writ of the lives of the Patriarkes And even for this reason while Haeli was Priest God raised the Philistines against them because they worshipped and retained strange gods and especially that that it is called Aslaroth And they by Gods permission for such a fault slew thirtie thousand foot and the two sons of Haeli Ophni and Phinees the arke of God also being taken which that it might protect them they had taken order to have fetched from Silo into the place where they were to fight But in the twentieth yeare after the Arke was taken the Philistins brought it back by reason of the destruction that came upon them when they conveyed it into any place of theirs whatsoever Samuell who understood the cause of the calamitie which they received in the warr told all the people that if they would all truly and entirely return unto God they should now take away their strange gods and Aslaroth from amongst them and prepare their hearts for God and worship him alone For so it should come to passe that he would deliver them from the malice and power of the Phlistines Sam. 7. They all yielded to Samuell and when they had thrown downe and put away their strange gods in the number of which was Baalim and Aslaroth they worshipped God onely After this he commanded them all to meet together in Mizpeh that he might pray to God for them when they were come thither they drew water and powred it down before God and having fasted that day they confessed openly to God that they had sinned as soon as the Phyilistians had heard that the Jews were there assembled their Lords came against them with a cruell Army and such a trembling thereupon fell among the Jews that they presently intreated Samuell that he would never cease praying for them till they were saved from the Philistines He first offered a whole sucking Lamb for a burnt offering unto God and then he prayed unto him for Israel and God heard him openly For when the Philistines whilest he sacrificed fell violently upon the Jewes God delivered them being discomfited with a thunder-clap into the power of the Jewes to be slain they were so subdued and scattered with this overthrow that they durst never after break into the Coasts of Israell whilst Samuell lived After this being enforced by miserie that they might make peace with the Jewes they restored the Cities which they had taken Sect. 6. These offices he himselfe executed as long as he could for age Now when being aged he could not execute the office of a Judge he made his sons Joel and Abiah Judges whereas they did not doe as their father had done but took mony and gifts for judging the lilders of the Jewes came to Samuell and
as soone as it touched his bones the man revived and stood upright He died the fourteenth day of Iunè as Oswald writeth The Life of the Prophet Amos. CHAP. XIV AMos the Prophet was as he saith himselfe a Tekâ—aite and the Father of Esaias the Prophet in the Judgement of Epiphanius although the Hebrews deny it by reason of the difference in * Amoz Es 1 spelling the names * Amos Am. 1 he of a Shepheard became a Prophet and was called and chosen by God from feeding Flocks of sheepe to feed and teach the Flock of Israel he executed the Office of Prophet when Ozias or Azarias was King of Iudah and Ieroboam son of Ioas was King of Israel and that was when Sardanapalus ruled over the Assyrians and Procas Sylvius over the Latines I cannot sind in what yeare of Azarias who ruled over Iudah two and fifty yeares he began to prophesie or to what yeare of Hieroboam who Raigned two and twenty yeares his ministry of Prophesie lasted But I am sure of what I say seeing that * Vzziah Ozias succeeded his Father Amazias in his Kingdom in the twenty seventh yeare of Hieroboam King of Israel and Amos himselfe saith that he prophesied when Azias and Hieroboam were Kings that he ended his prophesie within the remaining two yeares of Ieroboam when the son of Amazia the Priest slew him as I will shew you by and by And this I was willing to premise that all may understand that I had a good cause why I writ the Life of Amos before the Lives of Esaiah Hosea Zachary and others who prophesied when Achas was King of Judah seeing I resolved to follow the order of the times in which every one lived Because then Amos fulfilled his Office of prophecying within the two remaining yeares of Hieroboam King of Israel that is the twenty eighth and twenty ninth when as in one of those yeares by Gods Command he fortold in Samaria the destruction and captivity of Israel and Amazias Priest of the Gods of Bethel accused him to King Hieroboam for he sent to tell him how that Amoz endeavoured to make a change and innovation in Government and that he opposed and openly rebelled against the King and that he spake such words as no man was able to beare for he said thus openly that Hieroboam should dye by the sword and that Israel should be led Captive It is not set down in the Scripture neither have I read in any Writer what answer Hieroboam made to those things which are written in the book of Amos or what affection he carried towards Amos because of them But this is written in the Booke of Amos that Amazias the Priest when he had sent those that should tell these things to Hieroboam went to Amos and charged him with threats that he should go out of Samaria and fly into Iudah and there prophesie and that he should not foretell any thing as a Prophet in Bethel because there the Golden Calfe was worshipped after the manner of their Ancestors and the Kings Court was setled there To these words Amos made answer that when he was not a Prophet not the son of a Prophet but an heardsman who gathered Sycamore fruit he was called by God who commanded him that as a Prophet he should tell his people Israel things to come And that therefore he bad Amaziah hear the word of the Lord who told him that because he had forbad him to tell Israel and the Family that worshipped strange Gods things to come his wife should be made an Harlot in the City and his Children dye by the sword and that the Enemies should divide amongst themselves the Land that he possessed and that he should dye in a polluted Land and that Israel should be led Captive out of their own Land nor have I found this written what answer Amazias the Priest made to these things But this Epiphanius writes that Amaziah's son slew him knocking Amos in the head with a club because he had proved that he closely stole two golden Heifers and that Amos was carried into his own Countrey being yet alive where he dyed and was buried amongst his Ancestors Oswald who writ a book called The story of Martyrs in the daies of Clantes the Great saith that he was struck through the Temple with a Leaver by Vzziah King of Israel the last day of March and that being halfe dead he was carried into his own Country and there buried The Life of the Prophet Obadiah or Abdias CHAP. XV. OBadiah the Prophet was a Sichemite of Beththaca neare the sea as Epiphanius writeth he also hath lest upon Record that he was the third Captain of the fifty men who were sent to Elias by Abazias King of Israel For when Abazias had fallen through a Latice and by that fall had got a hurt not knowing whether he should recover from that disease or no he sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron concerning his disease whereupon God sent Elias to charge them before they came thither that they should returne to their Master and tell him that because he had sent to enquire of that god as though there were not a God in Israel he should never rise sound from his bed which when they had told him and he understood by his habit and apparell that it was Elias that had commanded these things sent once or twice a Captaine of fifty with his men who should fetch Elias to him who when they were destroyed with lightning he sent another Captaine with his fifty who when he had humbly besought Elias that he would have mercy upon him and his men he pardoned them And this third Captaine as Epiphanius maintaineth was this Abdias whose Life we write He also writes that having relinquished the Estate or Ranke in which the King had placed him he followed Elias and became his Disciple and that having endured many things he was preserved by him And Hierome writeth that this was that Abdias as the Hebrews thinke who in the Reigne of Ahab fed an hundred Prophers in Caves which story that it may the berter be understood I mean to report more fully Elias by Gods Command had told Ahab that it should not raine upon the earth for three yeares and a halfe together A little while after he first went to the brooke Kerith and afterwards to Sarepta a City of Sidon lest he should be slaine by Ahab In the third yeare God sent him to Ahab to give raine unto the Earth Now upon the drought there followed such a famine that at the last Ahab who thought Elias to be the cause of that great mischiefe was constrained having divided the Land and appointed one way to Abdias steward of his house himselfe took the other way to seek out water-springs that the horses and mules and labouring Cattle might not perish for thirst so it fell out by Gods providence that Elias met Abdias on the way whom
in that felicity that both he and the City should be free from the King of Assyria and that he should hence know this for that the shadow of the sun in Ahaz his Diall should go back ten degrees and so the King recovered having by Esaias direction laid to the wound a plaister of dry figs. Sect. 4. Mcrodach King of Babylon had heard that Hezechiah was recovered from that sicknesse and he sent him Letters Congratulatory and Presents by Embassadours unto whom Hezechiah shewed all things that were brave and costly in his Treasuries This deed of his being full of arrogancy and glory was so displeasing to God that he sent his Prophet Isaiah to tell him that because he had done this very thing it should come to passe that all those things should be carried away and his Posterity become Eunuchs in the Palace of the King of Babylon To these things Hezechiah made no answer but that the word of God was right and good only might there be peace while he lived And these things have I found concerning Esaias in the Scriptures But Epiphanius writeth that he was cut in two pecces by Manasses and buried under an Oake at Rogel He also spake so plainly and openly concerning the mysteries of our Religion as of the Conception Birth Sermons or Preaching wonderfull workes in curing diseases Death Resurrection and Ascention of Christ that he seemeth not to foretell them as things to come but to relate them as things present or done and past Therefore St Hierom will have him reckoned not so much a Prophet as an Evangelist The Life of the Prophet Joel CHAP. XXI JOel the Prophet as Epiphanius saith was a Bethorian of the Tribe of Ruben and the son of Phatuel It doth not appeare out of the Book of his Prophesie under what King he prophesied or lived But St Hierom writeth that he prophecyed under the same Kings that Hosea did that is Vzziah Joatham Ahaz and Hezekiah and he will have all his Prophesie to belong to the Kingdome of Judah only and not also to Israel Act. 2.16 Ioel 2.28 he spake much concerning the comming of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles which St Peter the Apostle interpreted and many concerning that repentance which God requires in his Children Moreover as Epiphanius saith he was buried honourably in his own Country The Life of the Prophet Micha CHAP. XXII MIcha the Morastite so called of Morasthi a little Town of Palestina of th◠Tribe of Ephraim as Epiphanius writeth he ministred when Ioatham Ahaz and Hezekiah were Kings of Iudah we find nothing written concerning the Life of this Prophet nor concerning many others only there is extant a little booke wherein his Prophesie is set downe and that indeed chiefly relates to Samaria and Hierusalem and somewhat also to the Birth of Christ St Matthew an Apostle and Evangelist so interprets that place of Bethlehem the place where Christ was borne and forasmuch as he rebukes the wickednesse both of Jews and Israelites first against God and then against their neighbours in his disallowing those things he sheweth and declareth not only to them but also to all men what they ought to doe For he saith this is good and this God requires doe judgement that is that we performe what we rightly determine and that we love mercy and bounty and that we carefully and diligently walke with God Epiphanius writeth that because he reprehended and blamed the wicked villanies of Ioram King of Iudah he was throwne by him from a steep place and was afterwards buried in his own Country with honour Joram was Father to Vzziah is it not Jotham and how could Jotham kill him he prophesied in Ahazia's and Hezekia's dayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The life of Oded the Prophet CHAP. XXIII ODED the Prophet was found once discharging the duty of a Prophet when Ahaz was King of Judah For when Zizchria mighty man of Ephraim had killed Maaseiah the Kings sonne and Azrica the ruler of his house and Elkana who was next to the King and the Isralitos besides had taken captive two hundred thousand women and children of Judah and an infinite bootie and carried all to Samaria Then this Oded who was there going out to meet the victorious army comming in told them that that deed was not acceptable to God who had suffered the Jewes to be killed for their wickednesse whose wives children and goods they took away and spoiled contrary to all right and therefore they should follow his advice to carrie their captives back againe for feare the wrath of God grew hot upon them These things he spake to Azaria Berechia Ichizkiah and Amosa the commanders in chiefe who presently told the same to their companies and caused them to bring back their prisoners and restore all the booty as sacred lest the wrath of God should rage against them which thing they did with so great devotion and affection that they sent back those that were naked cloathed and set them that were weak upon beasts after that they had well refreshed them Nahum the Prophet CHAP. XXIV Nahum the Elkeshite so called of Elkesis a small Village in Galilee which St Hierome writeth was shewed unto him of the tribe of Simeon as Epiphanius writes he foretold the destruction of Nineve and the Ninevites who before as I have told you perswaded by the Prophet Ionah had obtained pardon from God upon their repentance he prophesied in the reigne of Hezekiah the King as St Hierome will have it at the last he died in his owne country and there was buried The life of the Prophet Jeremiah CHAP. XXV Section 1 JEremiah the Prophet Ieremiah's Father was of the Priests that were in Anathoth in Terra Benjamin was the son of Halchiah of the Tribe of Benjamin a Priest of Anathoth he prophesied as may be gathered from the beginning of his prophesie from the eleventh year of Iosiah the sonne of Amon King of Iudah to the eleventh yeare of Zedekiah who then was led away to Babylon after Ierusalem was taken with the remnant of Judah as Ieremiah had constantly foretold by Gods command which thing occasioned him great trouble For he was both laid in Irons and cast into a prison and a most nastie dungeon and yet by all these duresses his undaunted spirit could not be brought either to think or Prophesie otherwise then God commanded though the false Prophets told the contrary This because it much commends him I have resolved to set downe in what manner it was done God had sent him to Topeth to foretell those things which he had given him in charge and when he was come back from thence to Hierusalem and standing in the Court of the Temple told all the people plainly that all those evils should befall both the City and the Inhabitants thereof which God had spoken because they obeyed not his Commandements Phashur the Priest could not endure such words with patience but presently cast him after he
had him in such veneration untill Epiphanius his time that they prayed in that place and with the dust which they took out of the Sepulchre they both healed the bitings of Asps and drove the Crocodiles out of the River Oswaldus hath recorded that he was at Tahpanhes the first day of May. The Life of the Prophet Baruch CHAP. XXVI BAruch the Prophet was the son of Neriah He was servant and assistant to Hieremiah the Prophet in taking the Book from him at Gods Command wherein God denounced the evils that should come upon them that went not out of the City Hierusalem to Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon and the good things that should befall them that went and in reading in the Temple on the Fast day to all the people that were come to Hierusalem our of the Cities of Iudah There is extant a Book which is not the very same he wrote then as may be conceived by the time and place For the former book was taken in the fourth yeare of Ichoiakim King of Iudah and in the fifth yeare in the ninth month when a Fast was appointed at Hierusalem it was read in the Temple and when it was cut in pieces by King Ichoiakim and thrown into the fire it was copied out againe by this same Baruch in the same words and more at Gods Command whilest the same Hieremias dictated or certainly it was delivered him by Hieremiah But this that is extant is said to be written by this Baruch and to be there read by him to Ieconias the son of Ioackim King of Iudah and to all the people that were carried Captive into Babylon so that this was writ later Concerning that former we have spoken sufficiently in the Life of the Prophet Hieremiah And when this was read they all wept fasted and prayed unto God But when the other was read they sent money that they gathered as every mans Estate would beare to Hierusalem to them that were there to buy sacrifices entreating them that they would both offer for the sins of all the people and beseech God that he would grant a prosperous life to Nebuchadnezzer and his son Balshazar and afford them favour in the sight of Nebuchadnezzer and his son that they might live and make their prayers before God against whom they had offended and whose wrath was not yet pacified They exhorted them also that they would take order that the book which they had sent should be rehearsed upon holy daies in the Temple The rest of his words is spent in detestation of the sins and wickednesse which they had committed reckoning up the evils with which they were rightly pressed There is also in the latter end of Hieremias book a Letter wherein as a Prophet of God he doth foretell the Captives of Hierusalem that they should be brought to Babylon by Nebuchadaezzar the King of Babylon and exhorts them that when they be there they should not worship the gods which they should see but the true God Now Baruch was of such familiarity and acquaintance with Hieremiah that when the City of Hierusalem was taken and the people lead away to Babylon with Zedechias and the great men He tarried with those which out of severall Countries returned to Iudah and dwelt there at the command of Nebuchadnezzer the King Gedaliah being Governour and after Gedaliah was slaine and the remnant had intreated Hieremiah to enquire of God whether they should go into Egypt or no and he had told them by Gods command that they ought not to go They said God did not forbid this but that Baruch was one who moved him against them and because they did not obey Gods Command the Commanders brought Hieremias and Baruch by force into Egypt with the rest and there as I suppose he died and was buried The Life of the Prophet Ezekiel CHAP. XXVII Section 1. Ezekiel a Prophet and a Priest was the son of Buzi He prophecyed at the same time that Hieremiah but with this difference that Hieremias began to prophesie in the thirteenth yeare of Iosiah King of Iudah but he in the fifth yeare after Iechoniah was led away to Babylon and Hieremias continued prophecying till the eleventh yeare of Zedechiah wherein he was taken and little more than so But Ezekiel unto the fourteenth yeare after the City was spoyled which he calls the five and twentieth after he himselfe was led away which that it may more easily be understood and the Life of Ezekiel better known I have a mind to fetch the order of times and things a little more from the bottome Sect. 2. Ichoiakim after his Father Iosiah was slain who raigned thirty one yeares 2 Chro. 36. and after Ichoahaz his brother who raigned only three months was led into Egypt was made King of Iudah in his brothers stead by Nechokin King of Egypt Iehoiakim dying in the eleventh yeare of his raigne left Ichoiakim who is also called Iechoniah the heire to his Kingdome This Ichoiakim in the third month of his raign when the City was vanquished and the Temple spoiled was taken and led away to Babylon with his mother wives and Eunuchs and a great many more and amongst these Ezekiel now began to prophesie in Babylon as himselfe saith in the fifth yeare after Ichoiakim was taken that is in the fifth yeare of Zedechias who was placed in his stead by Nebuchadnezzer the King And Zedechiah was taken in the eleventh yeare of his raigne and cast into bonds To these eleven yeares of Zedechiah wherein Ezekiel was now Captive if we adde the other fourteene after Hierusalem and Zedechiah were taken we shall find five and twenty yeares and that five and twentieth is the yeare of his Captivity unto which he continues all his Prophesies And therefore Ezekiel did not prophesie in Iudah but in Babylon and foretold first that other Captivity which befell when Zedechiah as I have said was King of all the people because of their wickednesse both old and new all which God shewed unto him though done by them not in Babylon he spake of their deliverance also He began to prophesie in the sixth yeare after Iehoniah was taken and carried to Babylon and that in the fourth month and the fifth day A yeare after that is to say in the sixth yeare on the fifth day of the sixth month God appeared to him and bad him fasten his eyes upon the way which looketh towards the North which when he had done he behold an Image The Image of Jealousie at the gate of the Altar in the very entrance of the Temple of Hierusalem which the Inhabitants worshipped that by this their villany they might even drive God away from them This was a great wickednesse but he shewed them another greater than this He brought him into the Court of the Temple and bid him dig through the wall when he had done this there appeared a doore by which when upon Gods commandement he had gone in he saw upon the wall the pictures of
year of Darius and the booke that is intituled by his name reckoned amongst Scripture containeth many more verses In the beginning of the book at Gods bidding he chargeth the Iewes who were newly returned out of Babylon that they would return to him and so at last he would return to them and that they would not live as their forefathers had done who had contemned the Command of the former Prophets who perswaded them from their wickednesse to an holy course of life that they would not lie but speak the truth to their neighbours that they would judge truly and friendly that they would not devise evill in their mind against their neighbour that they would not love a false oath forasmuch as these were the things which God hated These things if they would doe that they should receive all things that they had sowne with increase and aboundance He foretold the comming of Christ to Hierusalem upon a shee Asse and the price of his betraying God shewed him Jesus the sonne of Josedec the high Priest standing before his Angell and Sathan standing at his right hand to withstand him whom when God had rebuked he signified by the Angell that his sins were pardoned by the change of his apparell and that he should become a judge if he would observe his Commandements In the fourth yeare of Darius in the fourth day of the month that is of November some amongst whom were Sarasar and Regemmelech had sent to Hierusalem to aske the Priests and Prophets whether they should weep and fast in the fifth month for the time to come as they had done already in former times and for many yeares Now God bad Zacharias being inspired and moved with a prophetick spirit to aske of the people of the Country and of the Priests whether they had fasted to God these seventy yeares in which they had been out of their land when they kept a fast the fifth and ninth month or when they eat and drank to him God declaring by these words that their fastings dinners suppers were not acceptable to him because they were not joyned with works of bountie and mercy as he had wished them by former Prophets and therefore it was come to passe that he being moved against them had scattered them abroad into all countries He prophesieth also many other things which are besides my present purpose he foretold also to Josedec as Epiphanius saith that he should have a sonne that should serve as a Priest in the Temple of God and to Salathiell how he should have Zorobabel There are some as Hierome saith that would have this to be the Zacharias whom Christ affirmeth in Mathew to have been slaine betwixt the Temple and the Altar But Epiphanius referreth this to Zacharias the father of John the Baptist in his life and writeth how that this man being very aged died in Judaea and was buried neer Aggaeus the Prophet The Life of the Prophet Esdras CHAP. XXXIII ESdras the Prophet and scribe of the Tribe of Levi was the sonne of Saraias He as himselfe saith was a Captive when Artaxerxes was King of Babylon and he beganne to prophesie in the thirtieth yeare almost after Jerusalem was destroyed He maketh mention in his book of the prophesying of Malachias the Prophet who neverthelesse is said to be born after the people were brought back againe from captivity And therefore he must be conceived to have foretold this as being moved with a prophetick spirit But because we write the life and acts of Esdras we must keep the order of the times as long as we can in setting them downe In the first year of Cyrus King of the Persians in which the seventy yeares of the captivity foretold by Hieremiah were fulfilled by his grant this Esdras went to Hierusalem to build the Temple with Zorobabel the governour and Jesus the sonne of Josedeck and others that had a minde to goe after them but how long he was there it is uncertaine For he came afterwards againe to Babylon and in the seventh yeare of Artaxerxes he returned thence to Hierusalem by his grant with many others and so as that when they set out from Babylon the first day of the first month they came to Hierusalem the first day of the fifth month Which journy and returne of his why and how it befell or was procured because it pertaines to his exceeding commendation I have thought meet to be related The work of the Temple of Iierusalem which was begun by the edict of Cyrus had been intermitted by the hatred envy of the enemies of Ierusalem and compleated in the sixth yeare of Darius and the third day of the twelfth month And in the seventh yeare of Artaxerxes the sonne of Darius seeing he by Gods blessings was in great favour with the King both because of his great vertues with which he was endowed and also because he knew him to be a scribe very skilfull in the Law of God hee not onely willingly granted his petition that he might goe to Hierusalem with his country men that had a mind to explain the law but also he gave him a Patent whereby it may easily be conceived how gratious he was with him Now the Copy of the Patent is thus Artaxerxees King of Kings to Esdras the Priest ascribe exceeding skilfull of the law of the God of Heaven greeting I have made a decree that he that will of the people of Israel the Priests and Levites may goe with thee to Hierusalem out of my Kingdome for thou art sent by me according to the advice and judgement of my seven Councellors that thou maiest teach and explaine in Judaea and Hierusalem the law of thy God which thou understandest and propound it to all and maiest carry the Gold and silver which I and my Councellers have of our selves and of our owne accord offered unto the God of Israel whose Temple is at Hierusalem And if the people which is in the country will give gold and silver I give thee leave to receive it all and buy with it Calves ramms lambs and other necessary sacrifices which thou maiest offer in the Temple of thy God and if there be any silver or gold left that ye may dispose of it as it liketh thee or thy people according to the will of God The vessels also which are delivered thee to doe sacrifice in the Temple of thy God doe thou there look to that they may be ready at hād But if thou want any thing besides I would that thou require of my Rulers whom I have set over my Treasurie beyond the river for this I have given them charge of in thy decree lest perhaps thy God should be angry at me and my children and also that they that attend Gods service may be altogether free Let it be also lawfull for thee to appoint some punishment either of banishment or death or prison or fine Esdras having received this Patent after he had thanked the King in