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
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
the which the first 9. are attributed to Moses the seruant of God the rest are Dauids and this booke doeth last vnto the 107 Psalme Praise ye the Lord. The fift Booke containes 45. Psalmes of the which many are attributed to Dauid in the meane time some of them being vncertaine for the hearers they are marked sometimes before the Psalme sometimes after and sometimes in both places by this Hebrew word HALLELVIA so as it seemeth to be a giuing of thankes to God for such a Psalme The Author is not known And this 5. booke continueth vnto the end of the Psalter The third diuision All the Psalmes are 5 folde to wit 1 Praiers 2 Giuing of thanks 3 Consolations 4 Prophesies 5 Doctrines 1 All the Psalmes are praiers in which something is sought of God as this Beâ— merciful vnto me O God c. Again Heâ—â— vs O god c. Again Lord in thy wrath c 2 All the Psalmes are Thankesgiuings it which we do giue thanks vnto God for be benefits receiued as this O praise yee the Lord c. 3 Al the Psalms are consolations in which we comfort one another as this Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen Blessed is the man 4 Al the Psalmes are propheticall in the which the Messias is foretold with his kingdome his resurrection and ascension as O Lord our God God shall arise and the Gentiles c. 5 All the Psalmes are Doctrinall which continueth histories and instructions or reformations of manners As beholde howe good and pleasant c. He that dwelleth in the closet of the most highest and doth reâ—â—anâ—e in the shadow of the almighty Vnlesse the Lord build the house c. Againe by the riuers of Babylon Besides all these there are sundry and diuers vses of the Psalmes As for example 1 So often as thy hart is heauy 2 So often as thou art destitute of mans helpe 3 So often as thou art oppressed by thy enemy 4 So often as thou art molested by the eues 5 So often as thou art inforced to exilement or driuen into banishment 6 So often as thou art in daunger of laiyng await of others 7 So often as thou art depriued of wife chil 8 So often as thou art oppressed with pouerty 9 So often as thou art ouergrown with diseases 10 So often as thou art pressed with enuy 11 So often as thou art had in contempt 12 So often as thou art deposed or put out of of But it is to be obserued that the vulgar edition hath erred in the numbring of the Psalmes Therefore they are to be numbred according to the Hebrue truth This is to bee obserued that Dauid is painted and set forth with his harpe bicause of those Psalmes as from him playing or singing vpon the Harpe The Books of Salomon the K. Three bookes are attributed to Salomon Prouerbes Ecclesiastes Canticles Which thus among themselues are to diuid 1. Prouerbs for young men 2. Eccle. for men of stayed yeares 3. Cant. for old men The booke of the Prou. doth contaiâ— doctrine concerning obedieÌ„ce coÌ„cerninâ— good workes manners withthe which christian young man is adorned Eccles containeth doctrine concerning the crosse and consolations in temptation with the which they are aflicted and tempted that are setled full growne in religion and godlines The Cant. are certaine pleasant sweeâ— thanksgiuings with the which the godly that are ready to departe from hence in full age doe ascribe all that power vnto God by which they haue beene heere lustained The Booke of the prouerbs THe booke of the Prou besides this that it contayneth most excellent sentences in which it teacheth partlye the feare of God and faith in God partlye honest maners conuersations in this life He hath a most excellent Oration by the name of wisdome concerning the eternall word of God by the which all thinges are made gouerned that is Iesus Christ our Lord. This booke is diuided after this maner From the beginning vnto the 10 châ— there are certaine common exhortations by way of preface to those things that teache a christian man as are exhortations to wisdome discipline knowledge honestie and perfectnes in the 1. chap In the 2. chap to heare and learne the word of God with promises thereunto anexed In the 3. chap to beleeue the word of God and to vse rightlie our goods possessions to suffer aduersitie in the crosse In the 4 chap to obey parents promises being added In the 5. chap exhortations to chastitie against adulterie and fornication In the 6 chap. to must in God contrarie to the confidence in man and againe to labour in youth In the 7 chap to concord and chastitie against adulterie and that most sharpely In the 8. 9 chap. He comeÌ„ds wisdome excellently that is to say the word of God and thus far the preface From the 10 vnto the 25 he sets downe prouerbs or sentences in euery chapt there are many and diuers sorts which cannot be aptly reduced into any head From the 25 to the 30 chap doth folow prouerbs which are attributed to Salomon but were taken perchance out of a certaine booke by Sela and some other writers of king Ezechiah In the last two chap there are the Prouerbs of Salomon but vnder strange titles As Agur and Lamuell in which wordes it is thought that Salamon is called First of gathering because he gathered such Prouerbes After that from the presence of God because God was with Israell in the daies of Salomon The booke which is called Ecclesiastes THe second booke of Salomon called Ecclesiastes because Salomon was called Eccles that is to say A preacher Or else because he speakes to a multitude and not to one onely or for his wisdome with the which he was plentiously indued This booke seekes in euery kind of life institutioÌ„ of men sure felicity in this world but he findes nothing but vanity Therefore at length he comes and pronounceth that nothing is better for manne then to feare God and to keepe his commandements that whatsoeuer shal happen in this world yet man should remain in the iudgment of God But because these things cannot bee without Christ therefore this booke as the rest doth send the Reader vnto Christ There are 12. chap which are thus to be deuided From the beginning vnto the 8. cha instructing men of a ripe age he teacheth that in earthly thinges there is nothing euerlasting but momentany altogether short whatsoeuer we do see and he condemns al men that put their felicity any where else but in God For after his preface which haÌ„d leth the nature of thinges He condemnes 1 the Wisedome 2 the Ioy. 3 the Vnstablenesse 4 the violeÌ„ce reproch 5 the babling chat 6 the Couetousnesse 7 the shortnes of the daies of this life From the 8 cha vnto the end he sets forth wisedome with her effects and afterwards with the fruits to wit True repentance Amendement of life Almes-deedes
c. And hee teacheth that they are truely blessed of God which are ioyned with God and are vnited vnto him through religion and godlynes and also the lawfull vse of other things In the end hee reckens vp the inconuenience of olde age and the decay of all his strength that draweth nigh to death Therfore let euerie man liue in the feare of God let him faithfully performe his office and let him vse the thinges created of God to the glorie of God The booke of the Canticles THe 3. booke of Sal. whose Title is The Song of songs Salomon hath set foorth many songes to wit 105.3 King 4 but because that this song is more excellent thē the rest and more glorious it is called the song of songs and it contayneth secreete misteries vnder the Metaphors of the bridegrome and the Bride of Christ and of his Church or of all the godly For though the verse be thank of giuing in which thāks are giuen to God because he hath adorned the common weale of Israell with great benefits to wit with a king and priest Yet he shadoweth the kingdome of Christ for whom all men doth giue thanks vnto God that here haue fought a good fight to whom is appointed a crowne of righteousnesse in heauen whiles they are ingrasted with their spouse eternally Because it cannot be deuided into parts since that thorow 8. chap there is a certain perpetual speech between the bridegrome and the bride To conclude this book containeth most excellent and particular matter 1 Concerning the kingdome of God 2 Concerning the Ministery of his word 3 Concerning the variety of the gifts of the holy ghost 4 Concerning the perpetual felicity thorow Christ 5 Concerning the defence or protection of the highest 6 Concerning the Tranquility of the elect 7 Concerning the peace or quietnes of conscience The booke of Wisdome ALthough this booke by the title seemeth to bee Salomons yet it is ascribed to Philo a man most wise learned of the Iewes who was the embassador of the Iewes to the Emperor Caligula againste which tyrannous prince the like vngodly men Philo Iudeus seemeth to haue written this booke that it may wel bee called the Philosophy or the wisdome of Philo. The booke being very conuenient for our time He commendeth the word of God against sauagenesse and tyranny of the wicked who wil not fauour the word of God among their subiects euen as Caligula did interdict his religion among the Iewes But thou shalt obserue that the word of God in this booke is called Wisedome and this booke to be the interpretation of the first commandement whence all wisdome doth flow Furthermore the chapters of this booke are 22. which are thus deuided 1 From the beginning vnto the 6 cha he maketh a comparison betwixt the righteousnes of the godly the cogitations of the wicked 2 Betwixt the goodnesse of the godly and the councell of the wicked 3. Betwixt the simplicity of the godly and the tyranny of the wicked 4. Betwixt the Martyrdome of the faithfull and the vnhappinesse of Insidels 5 Betwixt the constancie reward and felicity of the godly the condemnation of the wicked 2 From the 6 chap vnto the 10 hee layeth downe graue exhortations in which he exhorteth wicked men to embrace wisedom that is to saye with penitency and repentance where he sheweth that wisedome is to be gotten by faithful prayers 3 From the 10 vnto the 16 he commēdeth wisedome by the example of the Patriarches and by the sundry benefites and myracles of God towardes his people and against Idolatry and impiety whose cursse he sets downe with a derision and detesting of them by praising Gods mercy From the 16 chap vnto the ende of the booke againe he compares the righteousnesse and the rewards of the godly with the vnrighteousnesse and punishmentes of the wicked by bringing an example concerning the destruction of the Egyptians So much concerning this booke out of the which many Ecclesiasticall songes are taken out The booke of Iesus the Sonne of Syrach THis book thus far is called Ecclesi that is to say as some men doe interpret an Ecclesiastical discipline much vsed yet not accounted amongst the canonical books It is called by proper name Iesus Syrach frō the author as the preface doth shew he liued almost after all the Prophets in the last part before the comming of Christ in the flesh A godly man and learned but of the schole of the Egyptians comming forth in to light did publishe this booke gathered out of the writing of many learned men The booke is admirable and very necessary and profitable for the vse of the common people where a Citizen or a housholder may learne godlinesse honesty prudence after what sort he must behaue him selfe 1. towardes God 2 towardes Gods word 3 towardes his ministers 4 towardes his parents 5 towardes his wise and Children 6 towardes his owne body 7 towards his seruances 8 towards his possessions 9 towardes his neighbours 10 towardes his friendes and enemies 11 towardes magistrates and lastly towardes al menne◠〈◊〉 This booke may worthily be called a booke of domesticall discipline But seeing that it cannot bee profitablie denided by Chapters because it is not a booke written in parts orderly but gathered out of the bookes of many doctors and heaped vp consusedly euen as Bees do gather their hony out of diuers flowers it is sufficient to shew what it doth containe generally 1 First it containeth prouerbiall sentences and darke similitudes so as in this respect Iesus Syrach seemeth to be a follower or an Imitator of Salomon 2 Furthermore he poureth our and singeth certain excellent prayers and hymnes vnto God 3 It containeth certain peculiar ancient deuine histories of acceptable mē to god 4 Lastly he sheweth with what benefites it pleaseth God most plentifully to blesse his people and what euils he hath heaped vpon the wicked 5 In sum the booke is full of diuine wisedome The books of the Prophets THe prophetical books doe follow there are 16. Prophets of the which there are 4 great and 12 lesser of whome wee haue spoken before The sum of the doctrine of the prophets is this 1. They teach the kingdom of Christ to come 2. They expound the first commandment by many examples and histories 3. They comfort the afflicted consciences threaten the secure and carelesse ones 4. they condemne the Idolatry of the Iews which they call fornication It is Idolatry or spirituall fornication when men do worship the true God not according to the word and commandment of God but according to their owne good opinion as men say looke Iudges 7 17. 3 king 12 Ose 2. for that opinion is inhibited Deut 12. The booke of Esay ESay is the chiefe amongst the proph whose writings are extant next after Dauids For hee is ioyned to Christ not only in faith but also in neernesse of bloud He cals Christ the bud of the lord chap
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