A BRIEFE OF THE BIBLE DRAWNE FIRST into English Poësy and then illustrated by apte Annotations togither vvith some other necessary Appendices By HENOCH CLAPHAM ¶ PRINTED BY Robert Walde-graue Printer to the Kings Maiestie 1596. Cum Priuilegio Regio TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVL MASTER THOMAS MY-LOT Esquier encrease of all true happines in Iesus Annointed FInding right Woorshipful so great vtterance of your Christian affecttoÌ„ immediatly after the spirituall exercises I kept at CHESTER in the STREET I could not but now in dedicatioÌ„ of Loue-memorials signifie my duetifull thankfulnes towards you not onely amidst but that more is in the forefront of my Friendes Accept therefore I pray you not a handfull of the Persians vvater offered to an vncircumcised Kesar but a handfull of the vvater of Life offred by the Lord his poor servant vnto an open professed Christian. A vvise Lapidarie chooseth not stones so much for outward quantitie as inherent qualitie nor I hope vvill you so much measure my guift with the bodily eye as by the Line of the Mind or spirituall eye whereupon setting downe my wrest I here rest Beseeching the Lord in all goodnes to be vvith you and yours for ever Amen EDINBVRGH 1596. Your poore vnworthie Kinsman HENOCH CLAPHAM TO ALL YOVNG ones in Christs Schoole increase of knowledge and sanctification be multiplied daily from aboue Amen I Haue heere for thy vse drawn a Summe of the Sacred-writ vsually caled BIBLE from the greek word that in English is BOOKE because it is the Book of al books with which Book other books compared they are but blots of mans braine whereas this is the Sacred-writ and wisedome of ELOHIM or of that ONE ESSENCE IN TRINITIE That Holy-booke before the Incarnation of the PROMISED SEED was divided into Lavve and Prophets but since the CHRIST assumed our nature in the same ascended to the right hand of Majestie from whence HE sent downe the HOLY-GHOST to fill all thinges especially the hearts of his APOSTLES for speaking penning the minde of IESVS after that time I say The Book of God was divided into PROPHETS and APOSTLES Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe Corner-stone Ephes. 2. 20. The whole then consisteth in these Books These are called the fiue Bookes of Moses or of the Lawe 1 Genesis 2 Exodus 3 Leviticus 4 Nombers 5 Deuteronomie 6 Iob which for order of time might be placed next Genesis but here for order of Books 7 Ioshua 8 Iudges 9 Ruth 10 Sam. 1. 11 Sam. 2. 12 Kings 1. 13 Kings 2. 14 Châ—on 1. 15 Chron. 2. 16 Ezra 17 Nehemiah 18 Hester 19 Psalmes 20 Proverbs 21 Ecclesiastes 22 Song of Songs These be called the 4. great Prophets 23 Isaiah 24 Icremiah 25 Ezechiel 26 Daniel These 12. bee called the small Prophets 27 Hoshea 28 Ioel. 29 Amos. 30 Obadiah 31 Ionah 32 Micah 33 Nahum 34 Habakkuk 35 Zephaniah 36 Haggai 37 Zechariah 38 Malachi The last Prophet of the olde Testament and the last book of the OLD COVENANT Betweene this Malachi and the NEVVE TESTAMENT haue too inconsideratlie bene inserted certaine PRIVATE writings called Apocrypha an Humaine Breath betwixt the Lips of the two Testamentes Malachi in English Messenger or Angel prophecieth plainly Chap. 3. 1. and 4. 5. that IEHOVAH will sende vnto the Iewes a Messenger even Elijah to prepare the way before the MESSENGER OF COVENANT viz. CHRIST These speaches of Malachi or last ANGEL of the old Covenant are the very Face of the Newe Testament or Covenant made for Many Matthew he reporteth the ANGEL from Heauen Chapter 1. 20. bringing newes of IESVS and Chap. 2. 1. The Messenger of Covenant is borne and Chap. 3. IOHN BAPTIST the PREPARER of Christ his way is introduced in that worke Mark beginneth with the same and Luke Chap. 1. bringeth in the ANGEL publishing the birth of the Messenger appointed to prepare the waye as also proclaiming the birth of the ANGEL of the NEVVE COVENANT for whome he was to prepare the waye calling this IOHN ELIAS because hee goeth before Christ in the SPIRIT and POVVER of ELIAS or Eliiah The Evangelist Iohn in his 1. Chapter bringeth in the saving LIGHT Iesus and the MAN SENT from GOD viz. Iohn Thus the last BREATH of the olde Testament in Malachi the first BREATH of the Newe Testament in the mouthes of the EVANGELISTS is all ONE BREATH CANONICALL from Heaven They looke not with Ianus into two contrary Coastes but Hand in hand they joyne kissing each other and both of them looking into the EAST from whence the Glorious DAY-STAR did visit the Earth Who nowe dare hinder their lips from meeting by inserting Vn-canonicall writs a Darke-Cloude and Private if not a stinking Breath The Iews that kept the Canon received them not As also they were not written in Hebers sacred tongue a sufficient Brand that they were no Orackles from IEHOVAH to Hebers People Leaping theÌ„ over them Logs we come vnto the Newe Testament whose Books be these 1 Matthewe 2 Mark 3 Luke 4 Iohn 5 Acts of the Apostles 6 Paul his Epistle to the Romanes 7 Corinthians 1. 8 Corinthians 2. 9 Galatians 10 Ephesians 11 Philippians 12 Colossiaus 13 Thessalonians 1. 14 Thessalonians 2. 15 Timothie 1. 16 Timothie 2. 17 Titus 18 Philemon 19 The Authour to the Hebrewes 20 The Epistle of Iames. 21 Of Peter 1. 22 Of Peter 2. 23 Of Iohn 1. 24 Of Iohn 2. 25 Of Iohn 3. 26 Iude. 27 Revel Exercise thy selfe in pervsing the Bible the whole of al these several writs and thereby thou shalt easilie God his Spirite assisting thee discerne the true Christ from False the True Church from the False True writ from False and so consequently all holy Trueth from Falshood And for helping thy weake Memorie as also for giuing a taste of that large Truth in short speach I haue throgh God his helpe manifested my poore power but riche good-will in this little booke First I haue in English Poësie drawn according to an ancient staffe delivered summarily the hystorie of the olde and newe Testament Secondly vpon the most difficult points of the Poësie I haue dilated by way of Illustration not only for the fulfilling of the hystorie but also for discussing sometimes some necessarie question as also annexed hereto such certaine computation of time for speciall joynts of the Story as whereby the spirituall minded may something bee furthered to deeper points contemplatiue As thou shalt receiue any good hereby so I pray thee be thankful vnto God therfore quickly thou shalt finde his hand vpon thee to every good work The Lord be with thy spirit Amen Dedicate to shewe all duetie chiefly to England H. C. A BRIEFE OF THE BIBLE WITH NECESSARY Annotations vpon the most materiall pointes in the Poësie 1. Staffe VVHen Elohim a El b Shaddaj c Iehovah d Iah d Ehjesh that is GOD e in Persons Three But e Essence One On whome all things do stay Cause of all Causes and Sufficiencie when f HE
willinglie suffer such as would In Iude his Epistle over and besides I obserue First that the wicked are but as menstruous cloths in our Feastes of Loue. 2. Lastly that the man Iesus our Saviour is God and he onely able to keepe vs from falling away as also to present vs faultlesse before the Father Nowe followeth a litle to be said of the Bookâ— of Revelation Blessed Iohn beloved of Iesus being banished into the I le Patmos and that by all probabilitie by Domitianus who succeeded Nero There on the Lords day Iohn was deeply ravished in the Spirite during which time blessed Iesus commendeth vnto him the state of his Church vntill the last First he enioyneth Iohn to write vnto the 7. Churches of Asia the lesse Secondly to set down in writing such visions and their adiuncts as might continue for the Faithfuls vse for ever And indeede this Booke so pictureth out the False Churches whether Idolatrous Christian or Mahumetane as I cannot maruell though Satan hath almost driven this Booke out of vse The olde Church Zion had her golden prophecies for future events and this was left to the Newe Testaments Church as a Loue-letter of Iesus whereby she should discerne Times Persons Thinges But marke this that the Iewe is never brought in within this book as an Adversary Their number is sealed Cap. 7. The same number of Them stands on Mount Zion with the Lamb Chap. 14. And the Gentiles are glad to repaire vnto them for being healed Chap. 21. and 22. This brieâ—â—ie for the present That which nowe followeth hath his groundes from the former Canonicall writings Alâ— falling out within the compasse of time contained in the book of Revelation or Apocalyps for the time of that Booke reacheth to the second comming of Iâ—sus 15. Staffe The Apostles haue for help a Evangelists And so the Churches by them planted be Th'Apostles dead there riseth b hellish mysts Which with the Light at no hand could agree Sun darks Starres fall The Moone doth change her hue Heaven rolles away as They before did shewe a Evangelists in English is Publishers of glad Tydings In the large sence any bringer of glad newes may be so called but in this speciall and peculiar sense these are properly Evangelistes that wer called by the Apostles to assist them in the planting of Churches Such were Marke Luke Timothie Titus b Inventions of men fetched out of their botâ—omlesse brayne first broched into their brayne by Satan of the lowest Hells these arose in the Churches and so darkned the Sun of Righteousnes Hereupon the Angels of the churches fel out of the heauenly places who before were as Starres in Christ his right hand The Churches who before tooke their word which was their Lantern light from the mouth of Iesus even as the Moone taketh her light from the Sunne they quicklie changed their hue whervpon the Heauenly Face of the Churches passed away even as the materiall heavens at last shall scroleâ—like vanish Paul charged his Churches to be watchfull of their waies and blessed Iohn he specially admonisheth the Churches of Asia-Minor But al of them neglecting their spiritual watch what are become of them what is become of the golden Romane People what is become of Coâ—â—nth of Galatin Philippi Colossus Thessalonia what are become of Iohns 7. Churches They vanished like a scrowle their visibilitie or face vnable to bee founde The 7. Churches of Asia togither with their fellowes had Mahumet quickly seated in their chair The 7. Churches Rev. 1. were seven golden Candlesticks and their Ministers 7. Starres in Iesus his right hand if these be Apostate as all knowe they be what warrant had Rome never to fall awaye These 7. were in Christs right hand and yet Apostate such a priviledged place in so open speach Rome never had or if she had bene an 8. starre in his hand vet lo the Sun lost his Light the Sonne hath turned his hand vpside dowâ—e Paul writing vnto Rome he saith To the Saintes at Rome not To the Church of Rome to other people he saith To the Church or Churches by which forme of speach it is to be thought that there was not at the writing of that Epistle any established Church at Rome Obiect Hee saith Chap. vlt. Salute the Church in their house Vers. 5. Ans. By the Church or Congregation faithfull of that house he cannot meane a Church established for then all the residue of the Saints saluted shuld seeme to be so many Churches as there were divers housholds or else that they stood apart from the Church but thereby he must necessarily meane the Faithfull Assemblie of that house Every Established Church is a companie of Faithfull convened but every company of Faithfull congregated is not an established Church They two are not Convertibles Neither is it any thing like that there should then in Rome be an established Church First considering that Great Citie Revel 17. 18. was heade for Idolatrie Secondly had bloody Nero King called by Paul the Lyons mouth 2. Tim. 4. 17. therein I doubt not alluding to the Lyons Monarch of Babel Dan. 7. 4. the mouth of the 4. mettelled Image wherof elsewhere I haue spoken Howe hatd it was long after for any to professe Christ in Rome much more to haue an established Church their owne Records declare Nay seeing All forsooke Paul what time he was first examined before the Emperour Nero 2. Timoth. 4. 16. I would demaund of such where was Peter then did he then apostate from Paul or was hee Non-resident Indeed the Romanists say he was then gone into some other Cuntrie notwithstanding his Apostolicall Sea was at Rome As such an answer is but absurde so neither if Peter had bene there and had an established Church could it well be deemed that both the common persons of that Church as also every their Ministers should forsake Paul Besides Peter should haue shewen himselfe no true Pastor by such Non-residencie as also haue beene guiltie of that Peoples fall Howe trulie then they haue taught that Peter first established the Faith of Christ in Rome as also should for 25. yeares be Romes Bishop let the wise hearted coniecture by the former Circumstances Much more let them consider what feeble footing they haue for Standing alwaies in visible obedience to the true Faith 16. Staffe a First order gone and Dores not being kept By b Baptisme heapes of prophane do rush With them at length a c Ministry in crept That with the Horne Gods ordinance did push So Anti-christ is stept vp to the Throne Who by his d Lawes would governe every one a The churches by little and little growing secure and idle in their spirituall watch they giue vp all their power vnto the Elders the Elders afterwards they leaue all to the Pastor The seâ—erall Churchâ—pastors in one Cittie they finally giue vp their keyes to so me one and hee was called Metrapolitane The Metrapolitanes finally gaue vp their power to some one
the Heavens and Earth Host hath fram'd He create g Man and h woman i AdaÌ„ nam'd a signifying Strong oâ— Potent The first Atribute or Name of the Strong GOD given in the Holy Booke Gene. 1. 1. by Moses Elohim is the Plurall number of EL so that ELOHIM did Create is as much as 〈◊〉 the strong One did create the Plurall number denoting the pluralitie of Persons but ioyned with a word of the Singular Number it pulleth vs back to considder that That Three are but One â—ssence of Sâ—bstance The Essence then is one and spirituall Iohn 4 24. but distinguished not devided into Father Sonne and Holy Ghost 1. Iohn 5. 7. b Signifieth All sufficiencie c Signifieth Bâ—â—ng or Eternall namely such a Being as hath his Being of None and by whome All other things haue their Being Actâ— 17. 28 and so Eternall as is not onely without Beginning and End but by and in whome All things beginne and end This woonderful Name is deeplie graven on the Forehead of the Tenne Commandements I IEHOVAH Exod 20. 2. dd signifying I AM so he speaketh to Israel by Moses I AM THAT I AM. He speaketh of himselfe in the Present Tense or Time because All time with vs passed and to come is presentay before him wee should so shape our selues as hauing our first Creation Fall and future Iudgment alwaies present befoâ—e vs then we would not content our selues with I was good or I will be good but wee would labour that howe sodainlâ— soeveâ— God come vpon vs even at that Present to bee founde watchfull and sober Heare not the High sacred Titles of God but be thereby in all estates edified ee This one God is distinguished into Three Persons the Powerfull Name into which Man was first Created Genes 1. and lastly baptized Math. 28. 19. not one Person before the other in Time but in a certaine respect or order whereof anone f In the beginning of Time and each Motion must haue a Moover before it that mightie Elohim steppeâ—â—â—oorth according to his Eternall Decree and createth Creatures for his own sake Prov. 16. 4. which work he manifesteth by dividing it into partes every part declared within a certaine Nomber of Motion or Time First he of Nothing created Something namely the Heauenly and Earthly Mattâ—r Genes 1. 1. whereout Al other Creatures were to be diduced And as To Create is properly to make Something of Nothing so this saide Matter is onely propeâ—lie Created and the Creatures formed out of That properlie Mâ—de These that by Heauen and Earâ—h in that first verse haue vnderstood the whole Subsequent as though the first verse delivered generallie what afterwards is handled particularly haue therein failed If this were noâ— so then Moses shuld afterwardes tell vs that Man was made of Earth and then haue omitted the Creation of Earthlie matter without which first knowne wee cannot conceiue the second Having Created that Heauenly and Earthly Matter â—oe it was as a confused Chaos or rude Lumpe but over-covered by the Breath or Spirit of EL as egges covered by the Hen for bringing soorth a more excellent Creature without which sitting vpon as not only there woulde be no newe Creature but also the egge wold in time cease to be that it first is so and much more than so without that over-spreading of the Spirit that first Matter would haue returned into Nothing and haue ceased Being But brieflie for I professe brevitie in this Book that Matter Created all being darknes ELOHIM calleth Light out of darknes and separating them hee calleth Darknes for it first had Being Night and the Light day and so was Created the first daye Into which day most liklie may be referred the Creation of Angels wherevnto I am the rather led because they are tearmed by the holy Ghost Angels of Light â— Cor. 11. 14. and it may be they had their Being from the Heavenly nature But in which of the Six daies soever they were Created sure it is that before Man his Creation they had forsaken their Originall Iob. 4. 18. Iude 6. compared with his time of tempting the Woman In the second day was created the Firmament or superiour Region calling it Heauen putting a separation betwixt the superior inferior waters In the third day ELOHIM first commanded the inferiour waters to gather into appointed places calling them waters so collected Seas and the drye part Earth Secondly hee commaundeth the same Earth to bring forth Hearbs and Trees In the fourth day the Lord commaunded two great shining Starres to Exist in the firmament appointing the Greater namely the Sun for the day and the lesser namely the Moone for the Night In the fift day God commaunded divers Creatures to haue their Being out of the Waters first creeping water Creatures as Eeles Snakes c. Secondly he commaundeth Being to Whales and all Fishes Thirdly to all feathered Fowles blessing all of them to multiplication In the fâ—xt day hee commaundeth the Earth to bring forth every kind of Beast pasing or creeping As I vnderstand the Serpent Genes 3. 1. in English Creeping not to be a Creeper of the Waters longing to the fift daies work but of these Earth-creepers because there he is called a Beast of the Feild So I marvell at some who haue peremptorilie affirmed because ELOHIM there commaundeth him to go on his bellie that he crept not before As M. Caluin thereon might haue staied such resolute heades so in a case at least doubtfull they should haue feared lest they should haue rushed on Moses who in the fift day giveth amongst watry Creatures the Creepers first place as in this sixt daies work placeth the creeping Beast next immediatly before Man being in the same day and in the place next before man Created which done g Hee ELOHIM doth of the dust of the Earth make Man breathing into him a reasonable Soul In this Soul a spirituall Substance as is God but finite and not being of it selfe so is not GOD in it ELOHIM stamped his owne likenes of an holy Vnitie in Trinitie and of an holy Trinitie in Vnitie As the Soul is but one Essence so there ariseth three divers Faculties or Powers in that one Substance First there is the Mind Secondly the Will Thirdly the Power of Doing or working The Minde conceiveth and vnderstandeth things the Wil affecteth the obiect accordingly as the minde first conceiveth of the thing and from this minde conceiving and will affecting there proceedeth a working power or a power by which something is done The Minde so conceiving resembling the Father the Will hauing his affection begotten of the Minds Conceipt resembling the Sonne begotten of the Father and the Power of Doing proceeding both from the Minde and Will resembling the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne And as them three Persons make but one God so these three Faculties for the Souâ—e being a single Substance it cannot be parted do make but one spirituall
Their Male-children therefore vntowardly slue That time was Moses borne in Aegypt Land Who after fourty yeares by God was sent To help poore Israel drownd in Lament a There arose a new king in Aegypt herewithall beginneth the booke of Exodus who to keep the Israelites vnder the yoke did commaund the Hebrews Midwiues Shipâ—ah and Puah to kill all the sonnes but they fearing God would not After this therefore hee chargeth that every Male-childe should be cast into the River At this time Amram of the Tribe of Leui had married with Iochabed a daughter of a Levite by whome a Sonne was brought foorth this beeing about 64. yeares after Ioseph Shee maketh an Ark of Reed Slyme and Pitch who laying the Childe therein committed it to the River His Sister standing a loofe to see what would become of the Child loe the daughter of Pharaoh for the Aegyptian Kings were commonly so called came to bath at the Riuer who espying the Ark took it vp and opened it The Child weeping she had compassion on it His Sister seing that she steppeth to the Princesse and demandeth if she shall fetch a Nurse vnto her She assents His Sister bringeth the Mother to whome the Princesse commendeth it commaunding her to attend it The Child being growen she brings him to the Princesse who calleth him Moses because she drewe him out of the water Moses being much more growen he leaveth the Court goeth down to his brethren the Hebrewes who â—â—â—ing an Aegyptian smiting an Hebrewe he ariseth and slaieth him Afterwards seeing two Hebrewes striue hee reubked the wrong doer The wretch replying Thinkest thou to kill me as thou didst the Aegyptian Moses herevpon fled for feare of Pharaoh into the Land of Midian who there was intertained of a Prince who gaue his daughter Zipporah for wiâ—e to Moses Moses after this keeping sheep by the mount Horeb called also Sinai to him there the Lord appeared speaking out of the middest of a burning Bush giuing him Commission to fetch his people out of Aegypt where mightelie they groned vnder the yoke of Bondage ioyning in commission with him his brother Aaron of more excellent vtterance than Moses The former King dead Moses and Aaron come vnto the Hebrewes and do tell them that I AM THAT I AM had sent them for their deliverance Moses and Aaron comming vnto them â—oe al the People were ioyned vnto the Idoles and filthinesses of Aegypt Ezek 20 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 but the Lord hauing a respect vnto his owne Name forsooke them not but strengthened Moses and Aaron vnto the work who boldly as it were opposing the sheep-crooke to the Aegyptian Scepter do come vnto Pharaoh telling him that IEHOVAH commaundeth him to let his ISRAEL depart the Land The King proud lie replieth who is IEHOVAH as also vpbraideth Moses and Aaron with hindring the Peoples worke Immediatly wherevpon the Bedlem-King commandeth work at the Peoples hands and denieth them therewithall necessaries to the worke Here the People murmuâ—e against Moses as being the very Author of their further slavery 17. Staffe He and Aaron brethren of Levies race a great wonders wrought before King Pharaoh Driving his Sorcerers from fore their face Yet would the wretch not let poore Israel go At last therefore the Lord doth b Moses call And tells to him what after should befall a Moses being now 80. year old and Aaron 83. Exod. 7. 7 They wrought certaine Miracles before the king First Aaron casteth forth his Rod and loe it became a Serpent The Aegyptian false Prophets Iannes and Iambres do the like with their Rods but Aarons Rod devoured theirs Here Pharaoh his heart was hardened but for outward Plague there was not any now inflicted The next day after Pharaoh comming forth to the Riuâ—r like enough to be Nilus Aaron there smitetâ— the waters and they were turned into Bloode by reason whereof the Fishe died The like did the Sorcerers Pharaoh therefore departeth hard hearted This was the first Plague Afterwards Aaron by the command of Moses and Moses had ever hiâ— commaund from IEHOVAH smit the Riuers with Frogs insomuch as they cralled into the Kings houses and climb into his Chambers The Enchanters did so He was more hardened The 2. Plague Next the Dust of the Earth was smitten whereupon followed Lice Here the Magitians attempted to do the like but they could not wherevpon they acknowledge that Aaron wrought by the Finger of God secretlie granting that their own working was but by the Finger of the Deuill But the King like a block departeth vnbeleeving This was the 3. Externall Plague The next day Aaron caused swarmes of Flies to infest all Aegypt no such thing fell in Goshen but vpon Pharaohs prayer to Moses Moses prayed and they departed but Pharaohs heart relented not That was the 4. Plague The 5. Plague was a Murrian vpon all Aegyptian Cattle The 6. Plagâ—e was a Scab vpon Man and Beast The 7. Plague was the causing of Thunder Haile Lightening to the destruction of Beasts and Hearbs in Aegypt but still so soone as the Plague ceased Pharaoh denied passage to Israell After that Moses streatching his Rod vpon Aegypt the East winde brought in Grashoppers covering all that Land That the 8. Plague The 9. Plague was a feaâ—efull palpable Darknes brought over all Aegypt for Light was then in Goshen whereupon Pharaoh his heart grewe more obdured b The Lord having decreed that vpon the next Plague the Plaguy-King should not onely Giue leaue but commaund them to Depart he therfore for an everlasting Memoriall of his Peoples deliverie out of the Land of Bondage doeth call Moses vnto him and enformeth him howe hee should teach the People to performe his will Note As this Pestilent King was a liâ—ely figure of the Dragon and his Homed-Kings enthralling the Church of God so that Aegypt was a forcible fore-figure of the False Church Revel 11. 8. over the which Leviathan ruleth and with the which the Israel of God must haue no spirituall Communion that is the Faithfull must not any way communicate with heâ— false worship and false Spirit wherewith she is inspired 18. Staffe a Go take saith HE a yearling Lamb spotles A Male yea through each of your Familie Do kill the same with fire do rost the flesh The blood on doore-posts smite Then orderly With Bread vnleauend sowre hearbs do eat The rosted Lamb the Sacramentall meat a The Lord by this dotâ— lead the People to the blessed seed promised to Adam Genes 3. to Abraham Gen. 1â— 3. by whome all True Beleeuers shuld obtaine the Blessing First the Iewe then the Gentile This Lambe spotles signified the Lamb slaine from the beginning of the World Christ Iesus without spot of Sin whose blood shed and sprinkled vpon the doore-cheeks of our Conscience doeth put away the Second Death farre from vs. As the Lamb of God for the taking away the sinâ— of the World was Rosted in the burning fiery Ire of God for taking