To whom shal wee goe thou hast the words of eternall life Concerning the holy Bible and bookes of the old and new Testament THE Byble or Bibles although generally it signifieth a book yet more particularly by the holie Bible is the bookes of the old and new Testament called holie for the holy Diuinity and doctrine of God are seuered from the wisedome of the world and brought from heauen and a Bible because many bookes are therein contained The first whereof is Genesis the last the Reuelation The first deuision of the BIBLE THe holy Bible is deuided into the olde and new Testament The olde Testament containeth those bookes which were written before Christ was borne as the bookes of Moses the Psalmes and the Prophets with som other which are in number 48. The new Testament comprehends those bookes which were set foorth after the birth of Christ As the bookes of the Gospelles and the Epistles with others which are in number 27. The 2. Diuision THe holy Bible is diuided into six parts in respect of so much as concerne the difference of the Bookes For some of the bookes of the Bible are Legall Historicall Doctrinall Propheticall Euangelicall and Epistolar 1 The siue bokes of Moses cald c. are Legall because the lawe is specially described in them 2 Historicall are those which simply containe Histories or thinges doone as are the bookes 1 of Iosua 2 of Iudges 3 of Ruth 4 of Kings 5 of Chron. 6 of Ezra 7 of Nehemiah 8 of Tobias 9 of Iudith 10 of Hester 11 of Machabees 12 of The acts of the Apostles 3 Doctrinall are those which containe some speciall doctrine for the edifying of the hearers as are the books 1 of Iob. 2 of Psalms 3 of Prouerbs 4 of Ecclesiast 5 Canticles 6 Wisedome 7 Iesus Sirach 4 Prophetical are those which were preached written by the Prophets wherof 4. are called the greater and the rest are called the lesser Prophets The greater because they write greater and longer bookes the lesser because they write lesser and smaller bookes 5 Euangelicall bookes are they which containe the Euangelicall stories of our Sauiour Christ set forth by the 4. Euangelists 6 Epistolar are the writinges and letters of the Apostles and specially of the apostle Paule The 3. deuision Some books of the Byble are Canonicall Apocrypha Canonicall bookes are those in which is preserued the authority of Ecclesiasticall oppinions Apocrypha or doubtfull bookes are those whose credit is doubted of and serue only for the instruction of the people not for confirming the opinions of the church such are the bookes 1 of Iudith 2 of Wisedome 3 of Tobia 4 of Iesus Sirach 5 of Baruch 6 of Machabees 7 of The fragments in Hest DaÌ„ All the rest are Canonicall bookes otherwise called Authenucall from whence the Canonicall and autenâ—call scripture hath his name and they are Canonicall which reade or expound the holy Scriptures Of the Bookes Legall or the 5. Bookes of Moses THe books of Moses haue their names in Greeke Pentatenchou of the numb of 5. because they are but 5. of the Hebrewes they are called 5. fiftes and they are ascribed to Moses either because Moses wrote them or because they containe the story of Moses in them and they are 5 1 Genesis 2 Exodus 3 Leuiticus 4 Numbers 5 Deuteronomy 1. Of Genesis GEnesis hath his name of begetting or of generation because it is a booke of the generation of the world both for the Creation of things and for the restoring of them after the floud It hath in it 50. Chapters and is diuided into sixe principall partes in regard of the sixe famous persons whose stories are set forth in Genesis 1. Adam is described from chap. 1 to cha 6 2. Noah from the 6 to the 12 3. Abram from the 12 to the 20 4. Isaac from the 20 to the 28 5. Iacob from the 28 to the 37 6. Ioseph from the 37 to the end of the book But Genesis in some containes 1 The Beginning of the world 2 The Deluge 3 The Burning of Sodom 4 The Destruction of Babell 5 The Deeds of the Patriarches 6 The Fall especially of mankind his restoring againe by the blessed seede of the woman that is Iesus Christ 2. Of Exodus EXodus is so called of going out because heere is described the going of the children of Israell out of Egypt as also the conuersion of many in the wildernesse wher the law was published because men knewe not what sinne was For then God gaue to his people the law of the ten commandements and after by Moses ordained Ceremoniall and Iudiciall lawes that Religion and gouernment might bee preserued among the Iewes In all which as in the building of the Tabernacle Christ was shadowed so the law is a schoolmaister vnto Christ The principal deuision of Exodus 1 From the first chap. to the 7 after thâ— description 1. of the birth 2. of the hiding 3. casting into the water 4. adoption 5 slight 6. mariage of Moses God giues 〈◊〉 commandement both of his restoring into Egypt and of his bringing the people oâ— Israell out of Egypt because they were oppressed with a harde bondage by Pharao which coÌ„mandmeÌ„t after long delay he doth execute In the midst of the 4. ch he goeth into Egypt and with his brother Aron goeth vnto K. Pharao reasoneth with him about the letting go of the people which is in the 6 ch 2 From the 7. chap to the 12 are described the ten plagues of Egypt as that 1 of Blood 2 of Frogges 3 of Lice 4 of Flies 5 of Mouen of cartel 6 Blanes 7 Haile 8 Locusts 9 Darknesse 10 death of the 1. born 3 From the 12 cha to the 16 is described the deliuerance of the people of Israell out of Egypt not without puisuing yet by the mightye power of God 4 From the 16 ch to the 20 is described the going forward of gods people thorow the desaâ—t their murmuring and Gods deliuerance with Mâ—nnâ— and Quaâ—les In the 20 chap. the â— commandementes are giuen to Moses 6 From the 21 to 25 Iudicial lawes are ordained 7 From the 25 to 32 are ordained lawes ecclesiastical or ceremoniall concerning the building of the Tabernacle 8 From the 32 chap. to 36 are the tables giuen of the ten commandements 9 From the 36 to the 40 chap is described the building of the Tabernacle 10 In the last chap. hamely in the 40 the erecting of the Tabernacle is described Thus much of the booke of Exodus 3. Of Leuiticus LEuiticus the third book of Moses is named of the tribe of I euy for the Priesthood of Aron which in this book is ordained with the lawes therof is appointed for the purging and eâ—pâ—ation of sin that it might signifie the true priest Christ Iesus the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world For for this cause were the Leuiticall Sacrifices the Leuitical hallowings
which is not his seemeth to bee collected out of diuers places and containeth an amplification of thos thinges which are sufficientlye described in the firste Booke of Esdras so as it is not likely that Esdras woulde thrise repeâ—ts the same things But howsoeuer the matteâ— be these two last bookes as they are not 〈◊〉 Hebrue so seeme they for little vse Therefore let vs come to the bookes thâ—â— follow as 1. of Tobias 2. Iudith 3. Hester All which may bee reckoned among the bookes which are Historicall brief be running ouer them let vs see what especially they containe in them that may serue to edification The booke of Tobias THE booke of Tobias whether it bee a story or some deuised thing as it may seem to be a Comedy It hath his vse for it sheweth how it vsually falleth out to the religious countrey man oâ— any other that liueth in wedlocke namely that he is subiect to afflictions but the ende thereof is good So that such as are maried may here learne to haue patience in faith in hope of eternal life And thus the book of Tobias is a glasse for theÌ„ that are maried at the booke of Iesus Syrach is an instruction for an housholder There are 14. chapters in it which may thus be deuided if once we know that Tobias with other Israelites was in the time of Salmanaser king of the Assyrians caried captiue into Assyria and liued there with trouble and persecution amongst the wicked 1 From the beginning of the 5. chap is described Tobias the fathers or the Elders 1 His Religion 2 His Mariage 3 His Godlinesse 4 His Troble vnder Senacherib 5 His Carfulnes in butieng the godly deceased 6 His Blindnesse 7 His Praier 8 His Fatherly loue towards his sonne 9 His 2 From the 5. cha to the 13 are described Tobias the yonger 1 His going to Rages a city of the Medes to the house of Gamaliel 2 His Deliuerance froÌ„ a fish by the An. 3 His Mariage with Sara Raguels dau 4 His Praier 5 His Returne 6 His Curing of his father 7 His The departure of the Angell All which things do commend vnto vs the estate of Mariage as honorable Heb. 13. which is gouerned euen by Angels 3 From the 13 to the end is described old Toby 1 His Thankesgiuing 2 His Prophesyeng of Ierusalem 3 His Yeares 4 His Death 5 His Burial with the description of the destruction of Niniue the restoring of Ierusalem and of young Tobias reâ—nno to his owne his death c. Thus God disposeth of houshold affairs and is a comfort vnto the faithful which are maried in all their troubles The Booke of Iudith THe booke of Iudith is so called of Iudith and is reckoned amongst the Apocripha bookes for men doubt whether it be a story or some deuised matter as it hath the forme of a Tragedy But howsoeuer the case standeth it is a profitable book and was confirmed in the Nicen Synode to be accounted amongst the holy bookes of the Bible for it pointeth out the Tyrannie of the wicked and their feareful ouerthrow as also the confidence and victorye of the godly albeit they are exercised with afflictions It hath 16 chapters which are thus deuided First from the beginning to the â— châ— is contained first generally the victorye of Nabuchadnezar by his prince Holofernes Holofernes threats and wrath against the Israelites and lastly the Israelites resistaÌ„ce one while and feare another while as it comes to passe in the afflictions of the saintes thorow the weakenesse of the flesh the dyuell in his instruments rageth so greatly 2 From the 8 to the 13 is set foorth the constancy of Iudyth who was a widow and a Iewe of the Tribe of Symeon and hir hope of deliuerance 2 hir prayer 3 pollicy 4 hir successe 5 hir bolduesse in cutting off the tyrantes heade hir returne into the Citty of Bethulia so that wee may certainely conclude that God is as well able to saue with a few as with many as wel by women as by men that the victorye may be the Lords whose power in our weaknes is perfected 3 From the 13 to the end the Iewes do triumph for the victory their enimies being slaine they giue thanks to Iudith she vnto God and at length in a perfect age she ended this life Praise glorie honor be ascribed vnto God who in vanquishing the vngodly doth defend and preserue his elect by what meanes soeuer it be The Booke of Hester THe booke of Hester is so called of Hester a Iewish womaÌ„ whom Ahasuerus had taken to wife whoe otherwise was called Artaxerxes successor to Cirus in the Persian Empire For those things which are contained in this historye happened in the Persian Monarchy after the returne of the Iewes from Babylon but before the restoring of the people And God to preserue his people among whom Christ should be borne he did heere myraculously put away a danger which was intended against all the Iewes which as yet remained in Persia by this example to comfort them that returned home and incorage them confidently cheerfully to go forward in restoring that common-weale wherein Christ was to preach the Gosper and to begin his gouernment Now concerning the diuision of the book we must note that only the 9. sonner cha are in the hebrew and none of the rest vnto the end and therefore in Luthers-Dutch copy it is separated from the other part set by itselfe in the ende of the olde Testament Otherwise there are 16 chap as in the booke of Iudith which are diuided as it were in maner of a Comedy The first act might be vnto the 4. chapt wherin Queen Vasthi disobeying her husband is put away and Hestera most beautifull virgin is chosen Queene But by the aduancement of Haman and his deceit the Iewes doe mourne bicause that all of them were in danger of their liues by the letters that the kinge sent out againste them So may wee see by this example of Vasthi and Hester howe God doeth put downe the mighty from theyr seate and exalteth the humble and in Haman howe God for a time doth suffer tyrants to flourish and tyrannize that their fal and punishment may be the greater in the end The second acte is from the 4. chap to the 9 in which followeth a comfort by this Qu. Hester that beeing perswaded by Mardocheus his many prayers taketh vpon her the defence of the Iewes and bringeth Mardocheus into the kinges fauour whereby at length Hamans deceit beeing made knowne to the king hee is hanged and other letters contrarie to the former are sent foorth wherby the people of the Iewes are deliuered from danger of death and their mourning is turned into ioy that it might be verified of Haman which the Psalm speaketh He fell into the pit which hee made but of the Iewes the net is broken and we are deliuered The 3. Acte is in the 9. chap. concerning the
be gladde and cheerefull In the 3. chap first of all there is a vision concerning Iâ—sua the chiefe Priest for his comfort and the reedifiyng of the Citie Furthermore there are promises made coÌ„cerning Christ which he names the roote or plant in respect of the gospel and faith and a corner stone in regarde of the church In the 4. clâ—ap is discribed the vision of of the golden Candlesticke for the comfort of Zoroâ—â—bel their Captaine and an exhortacion that hee bee not scarred or withdrawne from the building of the Temple by feare of the enemie In the 5 chapt is discribed a double vision that is to say of a flying booke and afterwardes of anâ— pha or measure in the which was shewed by the Angel the comming of false prophets into Iudea In the 6. chapt is described a vision of soure Chariots by the which the kingdome and the gospel of Christ seemed to be shadowed In the 7. and 8. chapt there are sermons and admonitions against the hiporesie of of the Iewes in the choise of dayes and times of their fastes Afterwardes there are sermons of exhortations to builde againe the Temple and last of all consolations concerning the kingdome of Christ In the 9. and 10. chapt there are prophesies concerning the comming of Christ of the humanitie of his kingdome by this that he was made to sit vppon an Asse afterwardes concerning the power of Alexander the great by the which God hath opened the Gates of the world that the king of glory might enter with his holy Gospell In the 11.12 13. ch there are the same prophesies and indeede more grauely coÌ„cerning the Passion of Christ being delyuered into the handes of the Gentiles also the desolation of the Iewes for their incredulitie and of the preaching of the gospel amongest the Gentiles after the pastor was stroken that is to say after the passion of Christ In the last chapter there are yet two prophesies of the which one containes the abrogatioÌ„ of the whole sinagog and the worshipping of the Leuites the other contain the tentations and the victory of yÌ„ church The booke of Malachy MAlachyas hath obtained the name of an Angell amongst the Hebrues He is counted the last among the prophets and the next before Christ whom he soretels to be now at hande and Iohn Baptist vnder the name of Elias to be his fore-runner Whether this Malachias were Esdras as some haue thought it is vncertaine But this is most certaine that he hath many excellent sentences concerning Christ and the Gospell which he cals that pure and perfect sacrifice for the whol world There are 4. chapters therein which are thus to be discerned In the first chapter sometimes he generally reprehendeth the ingratitude of the Iewes At another time more particularly the couetousnesse of the priests The one because they bring those things which are vnpure and nothing worth for sacrifice the other for that they offer vnpure and vnfit thinges to God and by and by euen in the middest of his threatnings he preacheth concerning the kingdome of Christ and of holy offerings that is the Gospell In the 2. chapt he goeth forward to reproue and vehemently to reprehend the priestes warning them of their Office that it is so holy as an angelical name is ascribed vnto him Also he inuayeth more particulerly against them who are acused of their wiues for their euill handling or vsage bringing foorth the exaÌ„ple of Abraham that would not haue them to be hardly vsed In the third chapter hee prophecieth of the fore-runner of Christ and also of both the comminges of Christe to wit in the flesh and to Iudgment Afterwardes hee chideth the Iewes for their ingratitude towardes the Ministers of Christ In the fourth chapter he ioyneth aswell graue as short exhortation to godly men for the true worship and feare of God and also ioy and consolation fore-telling to wicked men Plagues Destructions and therefore let vs obay the diuine admonitions and the true seruing and fearing of the Lorde our God and let vs also looke for the second comming of Christ with a cheerefull minde lifâ—ing vp your handes So much concerning the prophets and of the bookes of the prophets by the which the Doctrine of the new TestameÌ„t is confirmed and the sentences of the prophets are cited sort estimonie aswell by Christ himselfe as also by his Apostles Let the therfore bee recommended vnto vs for most sweet consolations Let vs therefore accompt them worthie of all praise for these sweete consolations The bookes of Machabees THE Bookes of Machabees haue only their name or deriuation of Iudas Machabeus for his excellent actes that are d cscribed in those bookes it is the last florie of all the olde Testament concerning thinges done by the Iewes from the time of Alexander the great vnto Christ when the people of god had neither kings nor prophets amongst them but Princes priestes There were in the olde Testament foure kindes of gouerment in the elect people of God to wit first a most patriarchall power Secondly a Iudicial power Thirdly a kingly power and fourthlie a Pontificall power For all which Christ onely raigneth in the new Testament who first is the father of the world to come Secondly the Iudge of quicke and dead Thirdly the king of kinges Fourthlie the eternall Priest or Byshop Furthermore the bookes of Machabees are reckned amongst the Apochripha books and amongest the Canonicall bookes and amongest other thinges it conteyneth a most true discription of those thinges which Daniel prophesied of in the 12. ch to wit concerning the persecution of the Iewes by Antiochus The First booke is deuided into 5. partes according to the circumstances of persons and in this booke there are 5. persos most famous whose acts are discribed for the most parte after the order of an historie First Mathias 2. Iudas Mac. Thirdly and fourthly Ionathas and Simon the breethren of Iudas Machab fifthly Iohn the sonne of Simon From the first chapter vnto the third the impietie and crueltie of Antiochus is noted whom the scripture cals The root of sinne And there is described the zeale and constancy of Mathias the priest of his sons that it may bee an euerlasting example to the ministers of the word in persecution From the third chap. vnto the ninth are described the valiant actes of Iudas Mach. namely his warres his victories the purification of the Temple the confederacy with the Romanes and the manifolde conflictes with the Gentiles his neighbors and their Princes whom he discomfited either by enforcing them to flee away or by killing them whose names followeth in order 1 Apolonius slaine chap. 3 2 Seron slaine chap. 3 3 Gorgias driuen away chap. 4. 4 Lysias driuen away chap. 4. 5 Timotheus with the Amonits and Galaadites discomfited ch 5 6 The sons of Esau discomfited ch 5 7 Antiochus the younger the leagu-breaker son of Antiochus the tyrant deceased with his captaine Lysias and their
Elephants sent out of the land chap. 6. 8 Alciâ—us the Iew going to Demetrius chap. 7. 9 Nicanor is slaine chap. 7. At length Iudah himselfe after the confederacie made with the Romans chap. 8. was slaine in the battell which was stirred vp amongst the Iewes at the commundement of Demetrius after the death of Nicanor by Bacides and Alcinus the princes of Demetrius the king chap 9. O most godly captaine and heroicall constancy in the iudaicall Religion O most valiauâ—e sighter and defender of this Nation who at length being throwen downe in the truâ— confession most valiantly died for the maintaining of gods glorie From the ninth chapter vnto the thirteenth chapter is described the historie of Ionathâ—s the brother of Iudas Machabeâ—s who dealt with both the Demetrius and Bacides and Aleinus of whome he obtained victorie by the helpe of his brother Symon Afterward hee had his affaires with the young princes of Demetrius the younger vntil Triphon slewe him by subtilty azealovs warriour for Religion and the true worship of god From the 13. chap vnto the 16 is described the history of Simon the brother of Iudas Machabeus and of Ionathas In the last chap vnto the end of the book the succession of Iohn his sonne is described after the death of Simon The second booke of Machabees THe second booke of Machaâ— for the most part is a description of those things which are written in the firste booke chiefly so much as appertains to Iudas Machabeus There are 15. chapters which are thus to be diuided In the fâ—â—st 7. chap is described the affliction of the people of Israell aswell by certaine deceits and trecheries of one Simon as also by the cruell tyranny of Antiochvs Wherein is not onely declared the constancy of Iudas Mâ—chabeus who liued abroad in the desaâ—t but also of the 7. brethren who was crowned in martyrdome together with their mother In the 8. chap. and the rest of the chapt are repeated the valiant acts of Iudas Machabeus vnto the end of the booke So much concerning the bookes of the Machabees and also of all the Bookes of the old Testament to wit The Legall Historicall Doctrinall and Propheticall which are all in number 48. Concerning Ioh. 5. in the which Christ saith Search the Scriptures The end of the Bookes of the olde Testament The Bookes of the Nevv TESTAMENT THE New Testament containes bookes which were written after Christ was made manifest in the fleshe Partly Euangelicall partly Historical In number 27. accounting the least which onely containes one chapt as the epistle of Paule to Philenion the epist of Iude and the two later Epistles of Iohn The bookes of the Euangelists THere are foure Bookes Euangelicall written by 4. Euangelistes to wit Matthew Marke Luke and Iohn they are called Gospels because they seuerally doe comprehende the Gospell of Iesus Christ That is to say Ioyful newes concerning the free remission of sinnes to be obtained by the meanes mediation of Christ The booke of Matthew MAtthew as he is saide to haue been the first of the Euangelists that wrote the Gospell to wit immediatly after the Ascension of Christ euen so he hath obtained the first place amongest them These are the parts principallye of this Gospell From the first chap vnto the 5 are shewed by way of entrance not onelye those thinges which do appertaine to the genealogy and natiuity of Christ As first the numbring of persons in the generations from Abraham vnto Christ 2 the reuealations made to Ioseph 3 The comming of the wisemen 4 The tyranny of Herod But also the life and doctrine of Iohn Baâ—tist and also the baptisiue and tentation of Christ before he began to preach and before he chose his Apostles From the 5. vnto the 8. is described the sermon of Christ which hee made on the mountaine amongst his Disciples and it was a very sermon of the Law by the which as by a foundation being laid he prepareâ— them in order to the ministery of the gospell First of the blessing and the rewards of good works 2 Of the offices of the apostles 3 Of the true interpretation of the law 4 Of almes 5 Of praier 6 Of fasting 7 Of true riches 8 Of confidence in God 9 The sincerity of true iudgement 10 Of continual praier 11 Of natural iustice 12 The auoiding of false doctrine 13 The study of liuing according to the word of god In suâ—â—me this sermon and generall hatration of the lawe sheweth that the law was a schoolemaister vnto Christ From the 8. vnto the 10. hee confirmeâ— his doctrine with excellent myracles benefites with the which both by sea â—â—land he succoureth miserable and afflicted men and shâ—wes himselfe to be our famous From the 10. vnto the 13. he informeth constrâ—â—â—eth and comforteth his Apostles in the mynistery of the word And also afterwardes hee confirmes the Dâ—sciples of Iohn He commendeth Iohn â—e condemneth the increduliâ—â— of many giues thaÌ„ks vnto God the father for his little stocke Last of all besides his disputation with the Phaâ—lsies concerning the Sabaoth concerning Signeâ— c. Againe he shewes by manifest miracles his louing kindnes and also in that he quencheth not the smoâ—king flaxe From the thirteenth vnto the ninteenth first Mathew shewes certaine parabolicall sermons concerning the force and effect of the woorde of God and afterwardes the vndeserued death of Iohn Baptist Christs departure into the desarte and his contention with the pharisees the healing of many sicke people the confession of Peter and the rest of the Apostles the transfiguration of Christ the obedience of Christ towards magistrates the comfort of the litle flocke Last of all he treateth concerning offences and the forgiuing of our brethren illustrated by a parable of the vniust steward in which part of thinges done in Gallelie hee sheweth the great care of Christ for the saluation of mankinde and also his great diligence in his office of teaching shewing of miracles From the ninteenth vnto the 26. cha he describeth chiefely the iourney of Christ from Galilie into Iudah and by the way of disputations sometimes with the pharisees and scribes sometimes with his owne disciples foreshewing also his passion healing of two blinde men Afterwardes his entrauÌ„nce into Ierusalem and his most sharpe and last disputation with the Iewes concerning the dueties or office of preaching throughout three whole chapters 21.22.23 of which disputation and reprehension these are the chiefe partes to weet 1 Of the Baptisme of Iohn 2 the two sonnes 3 of the vineyarde 4 of the corner stone 5 the mariage of the kinges sonne 6 the tribute to be giuen to Cesar 7 the wise of the seuen brethren and of the resurrection of the dead 8 the great commaundement in the law 9 of Christ the son of Dauid 10 of the curses vpon the pharises and Ierusalem Last of all he describeth the communication of Christ with the Disciples in the mount of Oliues the destruction
And againe after the death of Domitian whē he returned from the I le of Pathmos to Ephesus to haue written his Gospell against the Heretikes Marcio Ebon and Cerunhus This booke vnder the name of Reuelation conteyneth prophesie concerning euent fortune matters and of the deriued church that is to say the church deriued from the Primitiue church and thence to be deriued vnto the end of the world It may very well be deuided 1 Into Seales 2 Into Trumpets 3 Into Vials The 7. seales signifies the persecution of the church which is vnder Tyrantes to wit Domitian Traianus c. which truly began in the primitiue church in the time of the Apost and continued thence the space of 300. yeares vnto the time of Constantine it is described in this book chap. 4 5 6 7. The Trumpets signifieth heresies as the Arians c. From the time of Constantine vnto Theodosius for other 300. yeares yea vnto Mahomet and the pope This is described chap. 8 vnto 18. The Vials signifie the plagues of Antichrist for these 900. yeares from the time of Bonif. y◠pope vnto this our time of the which thou mayest read from the 17. chap vnto the end of the booke It may otherwise bee deuided to wit into seauen visions that is to saye into figures most wonderfully shewing to the minde and cies of all men The first vision of the seuen churches of Asia the lesse The second vision concerning Christ his church being exalted The thirde vision concerning the dilligence of the disciples of Christ The fourth concerning the affliction of the church The fist concerning the last persecution vnder Antichrist The sixt concerning the day of Iudgement The seuenth concerning the victory of Christ and the church Briefly he describes 1 The Kingdome of Christ 2 The comfort of the godly afflicted 3 The Threats of Tyrants 4 The priesthood of Christ 5 The Prayers of the Saints 6 The Histories of the newe Testament is reueiled The chapters are thus to be discerned From the 1. chap. vnto the 4. chap. is the preface in which first of all it containeth the commendation of these reuelations from the efficient cause to weet from God Then it containeth the admonition to the seuen bishoppes of the Churches of Asia the lesse which hee calles Angels Candlesticks starres c. For the ministery of the word From the fourth chapter vnto the 8. is the first part of the booke with the 7. seales Where first he would haue to bee vnderstood by Elders the Prophets Secondly by beasts the Euangelistes 3 By birds Doctrine 4 By the Lamb Christ himselfe 5. By Angels the ministers of the word 6 By Seales Persecutions 7 by Horses Tyrants 8. by sealed the elect the Iewes 9 by the multitude the elect of the Gentiles 10 by the booke the ministery of Reuelations From the 8. chapter vnto the 15. cha is the second part of the booke of Trumpets by which he vnderstandeth Heresies 2. by stars Heretikes 3 By the angell the ministery of the word 4. by the the Gospell 5 By the measuring of the Temple Religion 6 By the holy Citty the Church 7 By the two witnesses the Prophets and Apostles 8 By the woman the Church 9. By the 12. starres the 12. Tribes 10 By the wars the preaching of the Gospel 11 by Mychaell Christ Iesus 12 By the Beastes the Romaine Monarchy 13 By the lamb Christ 14 By the voice of thundring the word of the Gospel 15 By the new Song the Gospel 16 By the women Idolatrie 17 By Virgins sincere Christians From the 16 vnto the end is the third part of this booke First by the beastes he would vnderstand the Romaine Monarchy 2 By the Harlot the Idolatry of Antichrist 3 By the golden people hipocrisie 4. By Characters a perfect sign of Antichrist 5 By vials the plagues of Antichrist 6 By the mariage of the lamb the humanity of Christ 7 By the name written the Diuinity of Christ 8 By new heauen and new earth the Image of euerlasting life To the which place hee shal bring vs whoe hath signed this his holy scriptures with his owne pretious bloud euen Iesus Christ our Lorde who with the Father and the holy Ghost bee praised for euer and euer Amen FINIS
are established certaine matters concerning Pollicie 1 The parting of the spoile after the victory in the warre against the Amalakites 2 A particular diuiding of the lande of Canaan 3 A rehearsall of the places of abâ—ade where the Israelites sometimes staied for the space of 40. yeares 4 A discription of the bounds of the land of Canaan and the chusing of them that should be deuiders with the part of the Leuites the Cities of refuge and possessions which might not bee translated to another Tribe All these are full of Examples of Faith and vnbeleefe of transgressions punishments and of the maruellous administrations of God hauing reference to Christ that was to come in the flesh 5. Of Deuteronomy SO called of DEVTEROS NOMOSâ— that is of the second rehearsall and publishing of the lawe for whatsoeuer is propounded in Exodus and Leuiticus concerning moral Ceremoniall Iudicial lawes the same Moses doth almost repeate in thiâ— booke For it was very requisite that thâ— people beeing punished for their disobedâ—ence should againe bee brought to the obseruing of the lawe Moses therefore repeated the Law again with all things that happened vnto them Besides what pertayned to the priesthood from the 9 chap hee declareth all those matters which pertained either to spiritual or corporall gouernment all which he applyeth to this end that they might draw vs vnto Christ of whome hee prophesyeth plainly in the 18. chap I will raise vppe a prophet for them from among their brethren c. For the law is a schoolmaister vnto Christ and the end of the law is Christ The Book is very fitly deuided into 4. principall parts 1 From the beginning to the 5. chap are rehearsed some of Gods works benefits past vnto theÌ„ wherby the people are sharply admonished both of their own vnthankefulnesse and disobedience and also put in mind of Gods goodnesse thereby to obey him 2 From the fift to the 20 he repeateth those things which eyther might further or hinder faith which do chieflye concerne spiritual gouernment and the true worship of God in the first Table for first vnto the 13 chap hee repeateth the ten Commaundements with weighty admonitions exhortations to the feare of God and keeping the x. commandements of God with exhortations from the Idolatry of the gentils especially after the inioying of the lande of Canaan with a recitall of some stories TheÌ„ he faithfully repeateth the ecclesiastical ordinances concerning ministers and the ministery of the word Tithes the yeare of Iubile the principal feasts choise of magistra right of the priesthood and the Cities of refuge 3 From the 13 chap to the 20 all those things which belong to the worship of the first Table 4 From the 20 to the 31 hee repeateâ— those things that might either work or hinder charity In the second Table that which conceâ—â— outward gouernment as political ordinances 1 of Warlike affaires 2 of The works of charity 3 of Those things that were fit for at office of theÌ„ that were to take iâ— 4 of The bill of diuorce 5 of thanfulnes towards Gods word Hereunto are added punishmentes for the breach of Gods commandement and rewards for keeping them and that which is most comfortable he sheweth in the 30 ch that thorowe repentance there is a waye for sinners to the mercy of God 5 From the 31 cha to the end of the book are set forth those thinges which happened about the death of Moses For first he comforteth the people least they should greeue and be discouraged because of his death theÌ„ with a notable song hee giues thankes vnto God and foretelleth what shal come to pas in the land of promise Afterward he blesseth the people and after the example of the Patriarch Iacob Gen 49 he blesseth euery seuerall tribe taking his leaue of them and prophesieth what shal befall vnto then Lastly he goeth vp to the mountain and receiuing comfort from God departeth this life and as it is thought he was both with body and soule carried vp into heauen as he appeared with Eliah in mount Thabor Thus farre of the Pentatenk of Moses which is so called of the number fiue and of the laste ve be Tencho which signe is to giue instruction as if it were an instrument which is of fiue stringes hauing respect to the only Lord Iesus Christ as he himselfe else-where but especially in the last of Luke doeth testifye saying Those thinges which are written of the sonne of man in Moses c. also there are diuers places in the new Testament alledged out of Moses Of the Booke of Iosua NOw some of the bookes Historical do follow in order vntill the 5. booke of Iob. Amongst which the chiefest are first As that of Iosua the Iudges and Kinges Wherein we may plentifully learne 1. The feare of God and Fai h. 2 weaknesse the crosse 3 repentance and amenedment 4 patience and comfort 1 The booke of Iosua taketh the name of Iosua himselfe the sonne of Nvun whoe was otherwiseÌ„ called Iesus Naue Hee succeeded Moses in the office of Magistracie and as Moses guided and gouerned the people 40. yeares beeing deliuered out of Egypt in the wildernesse by the mighty haÌ„d of God so Iosua by the same power of god brought the people into the land of Canaan or the lande of Promise taking the Caties and killing or putting to flight the inhabitants and deuided the land among theÌ„ in which these three things are to be seuerally obserued 1 That God kept his promise made to fiue Patriarches concerning the lande of Promise 2 That the Common-weale of Israell is preserued for the foretelling of the blessed seed of the woman our lord Iesus Christ 3 That God fighteth for his people againste the wicked whose sinnes hee punisheth by wasting and killing them for an example to all the vngodly that they might repent This booke is deuided as the principal book of Deut. into 4. parts First from the beginning to the sixt cha besides the calling of Iosua and the confirming of him and his gouerning of the common weale of Israel and the sending out of the spyes their daunger and returne theyâ— myraculous passage ouer the riuer lordan is described with the remembrance thereof and with a new command of Circumcision which for 40. yeares space had beene omitted and the celebration of the Passeouâ—â— 2 From the 6 Chap to the 13 besides the league made with the Gibbonites the sinne of sacriledge the sacking of the Cities of Iericâ— Hai c. And the killing of many Kings are heere discribed which in the 12 chapter are numbred that we may see how God fighteth mightilie for his people and that he rooteth out the vngodly 3 From the 13 chap. to the 20 is discribed the diuision of the lande of Canaan and the distributing thereof by lots according to the Tribes of Israell whereby is shewed that the promise of God is true 4 From the 20 chap to the